[FRC Blog] Veteran Team Drive Base Option and Registration Progress

[Ryan Dognaux]

Originally Posted by Cothron Theiss

My team has used the KOP chassis or a modified version of it all four years of our existence. It's worked well for us, but my team is hoping to make the switch to a WCD using the VersaFrame products. Mounting things to our frame has always been a poorly thought-out process for us, and I hope the VersaFrame system will at least force the designers to figure out mounting BEFORE Weeks 5 & 6. Also, I think the process of making a chassis from scratch (sort of) will let the students and designers actually think through how the drivetrain works, and let them have a little control over the most important part of the robot.

I will say that the versaframe system is very good as well. We used the versaframe style of building everywhere on top of the kit of parts drive last year and it worked out great. Regardless of which one you choose, you still need to think about system integration and that's where doing a bit of CAD upfront really helps.

Even creating a WCD using the versa system from scratch will take a little longer than just assembling the kit of parts drive base. We saved probably 3-4 days last year of fabrication and assembly compared to assembling a WCD. Make sure your time and resources wouldn't be better spent on what goes on top of the drive train.