Standard vs. Custom Frame

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Viper37

You must not get very far then.

2 years running we have used the kitbot frame. 2 years running the front and rear are badly smashed in.


Time to get our brand new TIG/CNC Aluminum frame from HP's machine shop!

2 years we've used the kit frame, and 2 years we've made the semi-finals at the Arizona Regional (one we won Industrial Design award as well).

Is it just the different strategies teams pursue that cause such a wide range of results with the kit frame? Some teams are reporting complete failures with them where they come apart frequently and make for a poor robot, while others report perfect durability and being extremely competitive. Is it the attachements, the driving strategy, or what?

If teams are looking for a good adjustable chain tensioner for the kit bot frame I'll try to get ours up, I looked but we don't have any good pictures of them off hand. It uses an idler sprocket that can be adjusted with a wrench.

There is a certain satisfaction in doing a custom frame I believe; I know our team would certainly like to try it. But when you absolutely don't have the possibility of doing it, the kit frame is certainly not a "well we're going to be mediocre at best" choice, and if done right there are probably times you'd still want to try it over the custom frame. If nothing else everyone has a nice practice/demo bot chassis to use.