Pocketing Gussets

[DampRobot]

Originally Posted by Seth Mallory

I looked at team 100's side plates today and they look great powder coated. I would recomend that teams with a CNC mill give it a try. And if you are good you can do it on a Bridgeport. Very sharp looking.

Thanks Seth, it was a pleasure having you over.

[Mr V]

The strongest shape is the triangle so rather than cutting out large rectangles some smaller triangles would typically be stronger.

Take some Popsicle sticks and attach them together at each end with a single pin. In the shape of a triangle you can not cause the shape to rack w/o causing the fasteners or the sticks to fail while a square/rectangle will rack and collapse without much force.

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by Mr V

The strongest shape is the triangle so rather than cutting out large rectangles some smaller triangles would typically be stronger.

See, this is the part that I'm a little bit fuzzy on-- I'm well aware that triangles are the (logical) strongest shape to use, but what I'm iffy on is whether there's a significant increase in strength in FRC-specific applications. MY team has always approached it with the view of "we have limited machine time and expertise, and our rectangles haven't broken yet."

We may have to experiment with this during the fall...

[MichaelBick]

Originally Posted by cadandcookies

See, this is the part that I'm a little bit fuzzy on-- I'm well aware that triangles are the (logical) strongest shape to use, but what I'm iffy on is whether there's a significant increase in strength in FRC-specific applications. MY team has always approached it with the view of "we have limited machine time and expertise, and our rectangles haven't broken yet."

We may have to experiment with this during the fall...

The best method we have found is to use thinner material/wall. On thicker parts we resort to lightening on a waterjet(thinner material still costs less and takes more time, so that is default regardless of the fact that we waterjet all our gussets).