pic: 6wd chassis

[sdcantrell56]

1/4" thick is always more expensive because it is more material. In the age of bumpers, a properly supported 1/8" plate will more than stand up to the abuses of FIRST. If you want to increase the strength substantially without increasing weight by too much you could bend the plates on the top and bottom to create a flange. This will increase the stiffness of the plate dramatically.

[JVN]

Originally Posted by sdcantrell56

1/4" thick is always more expensive because it is more material. In the age of bumpers, a properly supported 1/8" plate will more than stand up to the abuses of FIRST. If you want to increase the strength substantially without increasing weight by too much you could bend the plates on the top and bottom to create a flange. This will increase the stiffness of the plate dramatically.

Flanges are pretty awesome things. Here on 148, we like them. If you have access to sheet-metal or metal bending capabilities, it will help you make all kinds of very strong, very light pieces.
To paraphrase Ferris Bueller:
"They are SO choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend adding a few."

[kramarczyk]

If you have the patience to dig through it, there are a number of examples on how the location of material affects the strength and stiffness of a beam in this thread. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=67605

[spc295]

it is 1/8" alluminum 5052 alloy, so it is harder and stronger then other alloys.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by spc295

it is 1/8" alluminum 5052 alloy, so it is harder and stronger then other alloys.

Why not use 2024 or 7075 if your not welding anything to those pieces. 7075 sheets have a brinell of 150 and a yield of 65 ksi.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by rc_cola1323

Why not use 2024 or 7075 if your not welding anything to those pieces. 7075 sheets have a brinell of 150 and a yield of 65 ksi.

It's not always a matter of "X material has a higher yield than Y material".

5052 is commonly used in sheet metal applications as it is much easier to bend and flange. Yes, 7075 is harder and has a higher yield strength.... but, good luck shaping it as easily as 5052. In fact, the low radius bends you see on most sheet metal parts in FIRST (148, 228, Kitbot frame) would probably crack 7075 rather than nicely bend it.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

It's not always a matter of "X material has a higher yield than Y material".

5052 is commonly used in sheet metal applications as it is much easier to bend and flange. Yes, 7075 is harder and has a higher yield strength.... but, good luck shaping it as easily as 5052. In fact, the low radius bends you see on most sheet metal parts in FIRST (148, 228, Kitbot frame) would probably crack 7075 rather than nicely bend it.

I didn't think he was going to bend it, as shown in his CAD drawing. Yes you are right about the 7075 cracking.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by rc_cola1323

I didn't think he was going to bend it, as shown in his CAD drawing. Yes you are right about the 7075 cracking.

The next logical iteration in the design (supported by some recommendations by some knowledgeable people) would have been to flange it.

[Cory]

Using 7075 or 7068 for the sideplates of a drivetrain is a total waste of money and complete overkill in my (not) so humble opinion. Tons of people have made similar designs with plain old 6061 and it works just fine.

It's always better to figure out why a design actually works and the best ways to implement it than to just assume upgrading to a "better" material will make everything work.

[sdcantrell56]

I completely agree with you cory. The only places where I see 7075 as having a noticeable impact on performance is on gears and shafts where strength is very important and there is a constant load working on the shaft. Adding flanges to the sideplates will increases the stiffness much more than just switching to 7075 aluminum. Also 7075 is very expensive stuff.

If anyone wants to see flanges, look at my last drivetrain I posted http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/32013?

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by JVN

To paraphrase Ferris Bueller:
"They are SO choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend adding a few."

Nice.



And I agree with JVN here...flanges are an awesome way to strengthen something up and keep it light.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Nice.



And I agree with JVN here...flanges are an awesome way to strengthen something up and keep it light.

It would help to see some pics of this properly implemented.