Drive train help.

[DaveL]

As a summer project, we built 3 wood robots using some scrape plywood. It measured 3/4" thick, which meant it was likely called 1".
I think the side were 3" high by 28" long.

Our bots had the same side rails at an aluminum bot, but in the corners we bolted a 1-1/2" square piece of wood. For the third bot we used some scrape aluminum "L" brackets instead of the wood to save space in the corners. The bottom plate was very thin (5mm) plywood with glued on bits of wood. During a high speed head on collision with another wood bot (using only 1 pool noodle for protection) the bottom plate broke its glue joint.

Actually the glue held, but the wood veneer was ripped off. Going forward, I would use more angle aluminum brackets. We made these from scraps of aluminum box sections by cutting them in half (on the diagonal looking from the open end)

Another thing we did was to use chain and mounted the transmission so it could slide up. That way we were able to tension the chains by raising the transmission. The slide was really just slots for the bolts to slide within.

Dave