Easy Bumper Switching?

[Bob Steele]

Originally Posted by EricH

This last season, we built 1-piece bumpers, then put an L-angle along the sides. On the robot, we welded some toggle clamps. Pop the clamps, pull the bumper off, put the other one on, lock the clamps down. Didn't lose a bumper all season (though we did do a rebuild for Champs). I want to say we "borrowed" the idea from Citrus or Poofs or someone up that way.

After years of doing convertible bumpers...we switched last year to a similar method as described above. We actually design the bumpers to provide part of the structure of the sides of the robot (within the rules of course) We use an L bracket and the toggles on top. The frame is sized so that the bumper just slips right on. Last year, because we had an opening in the bumper, we put in two simple pins into the frame on either side of the opening that would not allow the bumper to spread apart considering that the toggles only utilize compression and have little shear support.

One piece bumpers.... the way to go if you can do it. Bumper change in about 15 seconds.... removal even quicker.... great for inspection and in the pits to access everything easily. Also easier to transport by removing the bumpers.... They are also much easier to make look really nice and tight.