2002 Build.....

[Dan 550]

I don't know where you get your belt, but where I get it it's a buck a foot for 1-sided ribbed or a buck fifty if you go with double-sided ribbed. Somebody's either rippin you off, or you're confused...

[ahecht]

Yes, from what I heard, most belt is cheap, but belt made out of this high friction stuff (CoF around 4 or 5, I think) is a custom job and costs $80.

[Sam Lindhorst]

80-20 is offering a 20% educational discount. Just have them ship it to the school directly, and ask for the discount.

For many IL IN MI and OH teams, standard, low cost UPS ground shipments will be there in one day.

They also have 25 and 40 metric systems.

The website is http://www.8020.net

[Jeff Waegelin]

I have a question: what is the advantage of this extruded aluminum stuff? I read all the posts, but I'm having a hard time making sense of all this (I'm more of the electrical/programming type). Does anyone care to give a short description of the benefits of extruded aluminum?

[Clark Gilbert]

Some advantages of extruded aluminium are that once u have something assembled its SUPER easy to adjust and add things onto it once it is done..

This type of aluminum extrusion lends itself to be easily put together (students can assemble it), and easily altered

--Andy Baker (previous post)


Its also pretty light, and it looks pretty nice.

I think if u had the opportunity to play around with it some you would agree with me (and never weld another robot together again)

[Jeff Waegelin]

Thanks for the info. Our team can't weld, since we don't have a shop this year, so extruded aluminum would be a very attractive solution.

One more question: how does the strength compare to regular angle, box, or channel aluminum?

[Matt Reiland]

We have had welded square in the past and found it didn't take much overtightning to start caving in the tube. This BOSCH rail connects with T fastners in a groove that virtually eliminates this problem. It is also very light. As for strength the extrusion on the BOSCH 30x30 rail is extremely rigid. We made a simple box 30 x 36 x 8 and could easily have 4 yes 4 students standing on it and it didn't budge. Good Stuff!

[Clark Gilbert]

I think Extruded Aluminium is probably a lot tougher than box, channel, or angle.....but for our purposes i think they are both equally strong enough if used right......


But this year with the hints of needing robust robots and bumpers u may want to use more extruded aluminium over the box, angle, or channel aluminium.




(Maybe Andy can add more....he uses it at work and knows the stuff really well)

[Andy Baker]

Clark,

You are right on the money, this extruded t-slot extrusion stuff is strong and rigid.

It's called "deflection in a beam", and it's a factor of a beam's material (modulus of elasticity), geometry (the moment of inertia and section modulus), and load at a given point.

The manuals of these companies always have a good chart which shows the deflection for eact extrusion profile.

All in all... it's very strong stuff and easy to use. The toughest thing is simply getting use to the hardware (fasteners and brackets) that are used with the t-slot style of attaching to the stuff.

Andy B.

edit... by the way, that "magnet bot" which lofted the balls into the goals was built with a "small kit" of IPS extrusions... I think.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Thanks for the help with all of this. Extruded aluminum sounds just like what we're looking for.

[Clark Gilbert]

Start talking about the IPS stuff here guys......

[Ghetto_Child]

my team used to use 80/20

the problem with it is that drilling holes into it makes it very weak and buying special components can be pricey for low budget teams.

[jasoni]

I was thinking about using the Bosch framing this year.

I need some advice though. If I'm planning on using it for a ball-holder-type-thingy, and not as a base frame, can I get by with 20x20 rather than 30x30?

[Loren 930]

For all those teams that are going to use extruded aluminum for their robots or models, please see the www.itemamerica.com website. I have extensive experience with many types of extrusion and have found the German brand "item" to be by far the best - strongest, lightest, and most available sizes anywhere on the planet. Please call me at 262-363-4800 or email me: loren@item-midwest.com. I can supply material to you at a huge discount and give you technical advice as well. We can cut, drill, and tap any pieces you need. Send me your list and I will turn it around in one day - guaranteed. We are currently supporting other teams and they find the product by far the best they have ever used.

Loren
Team 930