Cool Frame Ideas?

[dtengineering]

If you weld the KOP frame together and pull out the bolts, you would be amazed how much weight you save. All those little bits of steel add up! Not only that, but the frame comes out stiffer, and you never have to worry about a bolt coming loose.

If you have someone who can TIG weld, or even have access to a MIG with a spool gun and appropriate wire and gas for aluminum, frames become much less daunting, and a lot of things that seem like problems suddenly disappear. 3/4" thin walled square tubing makes great superstructures!

If you can't TIG or MIG in-house, then keep in mind that somewhere in your community there is someone who wants to weld your robot for you. People who like welding tend to like welding cool things, and competitive robots are generally regarded as a pretty cool thing. Perhaps a local community college or trade school can help you out.

Of course there are many other examples of cool frame ideas... pultruded fibreglass comes highly recommended in some posts. But don't try welding it.

Jason

P.S. It just ocurred to me today that if you covered your robot in competition carpet that from certain angles you would appear to have a very "stealthy" machine. From other angles, of course, it would just be ugly.