pic: One piece sheet metal chassis concept

[cxcad]

loading photo ...

[Arpan]

I'm curious as to how this would be bent into shape. Would it not intersect the brake?

[highlander]

You do realize that this has to be manually bent. That's why most teams have to use multiple pieces, just so that you can physically bend it like arpan said.

[T^2]

I'm not sure how one would even bend this manually... unless it were made of paper.

[wasayanwer97]

Well, there's always 3D printing

Haha, anyways OP, the design effort and practice is great. Keep it up.
Just remember though- one of the most important parts of design is keeping in mind the fact that you have to actually be able to make it. (At least if you want the design to actually be of use...)

[Chief Hedgehog]

I am not sure how feasible a one part assembly would be for most schools or teams - but I do like where you are going with this.

Even if it was a 3 part assembly, it would provide for great learning opportunities for the students.

It would be cost-effective, light-weight, and offer many other advantages.

Keep us up to date on your advances - and great work!

[cxcad]

I think a can modify this design to make it possible to be bent from one piece.

[pwnageNick]

Originally Posted by cxcad

I think a can modify this design to make it possible to be bent from one piece.

What would be the benefit? The improvement in overall strength would be negligible, and it would make putting the robot together much more difficult. Using rivets to attach pieces of sheet metal works well, it is fairly easy and quick to do, and it allows you to assemble modules of parts together before bringing it all together.

-Nick

[cxcad]

Originally Posted by pwnageNick

What would be the benefit? The improvement in overall strength would be negligible, and it would make putting the robot together much more difficult. Using rivets to attach pieces of sheet metal works well, it is fairly easy and quick to do, and it allows you to assemble modules of parts together before bringing it all together.

-Nick

there's no real benefit; I just thought it was an interesting proof of concept.

[Monochron]

This would actually be a really interesting project to learn what must be taken into account by the designer before handing off to the fabricator. I worked in a production plant briefly where Mechanical Engineers made CAD models to be fabricated by the in house shop. The first couple things they designed would often not take into account the fabrication nuances of the shop and thus, the shop could not make them.

Most college courses that I know of don't bother to teach the necessity of designing something that is both reliable and fabricate. The best designs come from a close relationship between engineer and technician.

[Carolyn_Grace]

Originally Posted by cxcad

there's no real benefit; I just thought it was an interesting proof of concept.

As a non-CADer and non-engineer, I found it interesting to think about. I agree that it's probably not the ideal way to create a chassis, but it looked like a fun challenge. Do you have an image of the metal CADed before bended?

[jman4747]

Harder than how you will machine something in my opinion is assimilability. Making sure you can get your hand into something or the space in front of a bolt is accessible by whatever tool is needed for it. That can be one of the worst time wasters when building something and is one of the easiest things to miss.

[hrench]

Originally Posted by cxcad

there's no real benefit; I just thought it was an interesting proof of concept.

Actually, there may be no or small benefit from a robot-standpoint (I haven't seen your one-piece design) but there is benefit from an engineering standpoint.

As a working ME that designs products, I've been trained that you nearly alway save money-- in total part cost, in assembly time and in ordering and handling cost--if you can reduce parts-count. This is a normal part of DFMA training. (design for manufacture and assembly) Granted, unlike the above image the part Does have to be able to be made with regular equipment. Occassionally multi-part versions are more cost effective, but not usually.

Further, another 'trick' when bending sheetmetal--if the bend line doesn't require as much strength, you can perforate it to remove metal and then hand-bends really are possible even if not 'easy.'

Part of why we're here in First is to teach future engineers--so I say if you can do it in one piece, i say "name that tune".

[cxcad]

Originally Posted by Carolyn_Grace

As a non-CADer and non-engineer, I found it interesting to think about. I agree that it's probably not the ideal way to create a chassis, but it looked like a fun challenge. Do you have an image of the metal CADed before bended?

I'm not quite sure what you are asking. This is the CAD.

If the modification below is made, I think this part can be bent much more easily.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3b...it?usp=sharing

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by cxcad

I'm not quite sure what you are asking. This is the CAD.

Do you have the version without the bends on it, ie the flat part.