Sheet Metal Manufacturing

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

I will be frank with you. You're in a lot of trouble.

We're at the half way point in the season, and you guys don't have a supplier for your chassis. BEST case, you find a commercial sheet metal shop who is willing to make your parts. The small batch is going to be expensive, and you're not going to get 2 or 3 day turn around time. Then what happens if it doesn't fit together or isn't stiff enough, or some of your measurements are off? Do you have the raw materials, or are you assuming the sheet metal shop will have the correct thickness raw aluminum to bend?

I would strongly suggest re-evaluating your remaining time and looking at the many pre-made sheet metal chassis' you can purchase from places like AndyMark and vexpro. You could purchase one and have it driving around in under 4 days.

Going to echo Tom here. If you have not secured a sponsor or machine shop to do this for you before build season, you are wasting a lot of time.

If you are still keen on going this direction, stop calling the shop, visit them directly ASAP and explain your situation. Even then, I highly doubt they can do this for you quickly.

I would suggest the same as Tom - buy something from VEX or AndyMark and don't waste more time.