where can I get info on extruded aluminum?

[Doug G]

We used 8020 extrusion for the first 3 years on our robots - and it really helps a team to quickly get a base (chassis) up and tested. And if your team lack the ability or skill to weld - this stuffs the ways to go. But be careful, the T-Nuts (gussets), brackets, and hardware can be twice the cost of the aluminum. Get both regular T-Nuts and the drop-in type. We always find a piece to add on and really need those drop-ins!!

We also chose 8020 since you can fit 1/4" carriage bolts (slightly grinded off for a good fit) inside the 1" extrusion. For a quick prototype, this greatly reduces the cost of the hardware. I also heard you can get 5/16" carriage bolts to fit in the BOSCH 30 series extrusion.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Doug G

We also chose 8020 since you can fit 1/4" carriage bolts (slightly grinded off for a good fit) inside the 1" extrusion. For a quick prototype, this greatly reduces the cost of the hardware. I also heard you can get 5/16" carriage bolts to fit in the BOSCH 30 series extrusion.

We went to Osh and bought a ton of toilet bolts. They were much cheaper, and fit into the 10/10 8020 series perfectly, and they were long enough that you could use them for whatever you needed and cut them down if necessary

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Doug G

I also heard you can get 5/16" carriage bolts to fit in the BOSCH 30 series extrusion.

The Bosch 30 mm extrusions are designed to accomodate an M8 bolt in the centre hole (which is 0.315"--or as close to 5/16" as one would likely need). The 1" series can take a 1/4-20 bolt in the centre instead.

[Greg Needel]

also www.itemamerica.com they offer FIRST team discounts

[Gamer930]

ITEM is 930's Major Sponsor. We work out of their shop to build our robot. Here is some previous posts about ITEM:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1775
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1680

Feel free to e-mail loren@item-midwest.com and he could get you any information you need. Mention that you are a FIRST team also.

P.S. He just moved to a new shop so the phone number from the old posts will not work

[Gdeaver]

Beware of shipping costs. UPS will get you on shipping if the length is over 8 ft. You should be able to find a local supplier in most major metro areas. 8020 maybe great for proto typing and specific mechanism, but the weight will hurt if you try to use it for the whole robot. It also has terrible torsional stiffness. T6061-t6 aluminum in angle, box and tube may be a better choice. Welding aluminum can anneal aluminum and induce stress. High strength steel pop rivets have preformed well on team 104's frame.