where can I get info on extruded aluminum?

[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.