What organizers does your team use?

[dirtbikerxz]

What organizers does your team use? So far, we had two toolboxes like so: http://goo.gl/kOhP8M . While we generally try to organize them every few weeks or so, it simply gets way too disorganized. And there are always just random parts lying all around the workspace because of not having a specific place to put them. What organizers/boxes do you guys use? I think the ideal thing would be a shelf of sorts with pullout boxes of varying sizes. So that a smaller box can be labled "bearings" and a bigger one "motors" etc. Something like this: http://goo.gl/5PFqzr but obviously much bigger.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

[ollien]

We use shelves and a little bit of hope that we'll find what we're looking for

[Hitchhiker 42]

Shelves for stock;
Lots of these, especially for electronics.
Milk crate with above things for smaller things.
A pull out thingy for nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
Toolbox like you have above for everything else (except for the stuff strewn about).

[Sperkowsky]

Currently we use 3 of these.

They are awesome for electrical and pneumatics but the tool one is a not optimal. On the electrical one we have a drawer for tools, a drawer for components, and a drawer for crimps. We then use the bottom trays for wire, soldering items, and heat guns. On the pneumatics one we use one drawer for tools, one for solenoids, and other smaller components, and one for fittings. The bottom trays are used for tubing, compressors, and tanks.

For this year I want to buy this for most of our tools.

We will then re purpose the other cart for tools specific to our machining area like drill bits, mill tooling, lathe tooling, ect.

Our small items are stored in bins on a plate like this it works fairly well for things like bearings, shaft collars, and other small things like that.

Our larger COTS items are stored in bins like these we got from the dollar store. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....lL._SX300_.jpg While searching on Dollar Trees site I found these and I am going to buy 20-30 to replace the bins we have now. They then are on a shelf like this .

Material Storage is the big thing we are working on. We have a closet that we are going to build compartments for, for long tall material. We are then going to use totes for PVC fittings and another tote for smaller aluminum pieces. We really have not come up with a good idea for sheet materials besides behind a table.

Thats about it for us.

[GeeTwo]

We have several steel wire shelves, on which we keep robots and totes full of wheels and other large pieces on the lower shelves, and blue stacking bins about 2 feet deep on the higher shelves. Most of our nuts and bolts are in the briefcase-shaped boxes with removable rectangular bins. Electronics is mostly in plastic units with pull-out shelves. The "briefcase" style boxes (similar to what Hitchhiker_42 linked for electronics, but ours are larger) are definitely easier to take to the pits because they cannot spill, but are a bit less convenient in the shop.
Most hand tools are in a vertical tool cabinet, but we're looking at buying a lower one that will double as workbench space in the pit, and be easier to strap in to the trailer. Most of our power tools are on a rubbermaid two-tier cart, because we usually take them outside to use them.

We have two fixed shelves, and two rolling shelves similar to the ones Sam Perkowsky linked to. Note that those rolling shelves are OK for getting across a tile floor, but do not stand up to rolling into a trailer or across a parking lot (especially loaded); we had to take the wheels off of one permanently at Red Stick Rumble last weekend. The fixed shelves should have a shelf within a few inches of the floor, or the legs will have a tendency to buckle when lateral forces happen (and let's face it, they always do).

The most important thing (and we're not there yet) is to have a place for everything. When you add something new to the inventory, the question you should ask is "Where would I start looking for this thing?" That's where it should go.

Another thing we're going to try this year is to have several "oddball part bins" for people to put things when they don't know or can't be bothered to put them where they belong. Then, the job of fixing the inventory can (hopefully) become one of "put the oddball parts away" rather than "search everything for part's that are in the wrong place, then put those parts where they go".

[WinterPoet]

We just redid everything this summer, so it's all nice and in place, but I expect to go awry very soon. We use one of these, similar to yours. We also have this with a tool box on top. Our bigger stuff (motors, wheels, metal) is all stored in totes. We have the rest of our gear, like a button maker in or on top of two things similar to this. Our system definitely has some errors, and once we start using stuff we're losing stuff. For now though, it works.

[Zealii]

Last season, we actually got sponsored by Fastenal. What was originally only going to be bolts turned out to be bolts and containers with drawers to hold them. They also gave us cubbies (like these) and some of those plastic drawer holder things. Everything was powdercoated blue with Fastenal on it. I have never seen the team so ready to organize! So my recommendation is to find a company that sells organizational equipment and ask them to sponsor you. You may be surprised with what you end up receiving.

[dirtbikerxz]

Originally Posted by Zealii

Last season, we actually got sponsored by Fastenal. What was originally only going to be bolts turned out to be bolts and containers with drawers to hold them. They also gave us cubbies (like these) and some of those plastic drawer holder things. Everything was powdercoated blue with Fastenal on it. I have never seen the team so ready to organize! So my recommendation is to find a company like Fastenal and ask them to sponsor you. You may be surprised with what you end up receiving.

Good Idea! Thanks.

[Billfred]

I believe 4901 is using these Sterilite containers for anything past hardware. We stole the idea from 254; each time we have a collection of items, it gets a bin. (Speed controllers, AndyMark gearbox parts, Vex gearbox parts, throttle motors, pneumatics components...) If we get too many parts for one container, we split the container and re-label them based on the new contents.

At home, they sit on a black metal shelf. When it's competition time, we put them in FRC totes (six fit in one) for easy transport.

[MC_Stitch]

While I am not offering "what to buy/use" I want to chime in from an event standpoint.

Remember everything you plan to use in a pit should be in a space that is 10'x10' or smaller. Some events provide 9'x9' pits. At Champs (should you make it there) the spaces are even tighter when you get to finals and are on the floor with the competition fields. Think 3 teams using a space that is 12'x12'.

Make your moveable chest(s) have only the most essential items in it. Remember somewhere to store batteries. Preferably with the charging system built in.

Pits can get crowded at events and you will have Judges, CSA's, and RI's visiting your pits. Not including visitors from other teams and people just coming out the the competition. So you will want to maximize how to set up your pit to provide organization for the pit crew, safety captain, and you want room for the drive team to tell you what happened to the bot on the field. And, you want/need room to display information about what makes your team great for FIRST, your school/organization, and community.

I recommend taking what you think the smallest space you can function in, taping the box on the floor and practice building your pit. Decide what is necessary and what is not necessary. Then tape a different box that is 4'x12' and practice putting only the most necessary items in it for a championship finals event. Also taking into account lighting for the Einstein fields. The overhead lights are usually turned off during Einstein making field-side pits very dark.

That's my 2 cents.

[troy_dietz]

Originally Posted by MC_Stitch

Also taking into account lighting for the Einstein fields. The overhead lights are usually turned off during Einstein making field-side pits very dark.

If you do bring your own lighting, look into lights with a dimming function or some way to easily redirect the light. Ours had to sit in the corner because they were too bright.

You could bring a massive LED screen instead, because apparently, those are just fine