Building the FRC Crate

[Mentor007]

We had to rebuild our rookie year's crate. It was built well, but too much weight resulting in freight overages. Consider the weight of the robot and the items that you will ship with it that are not counted toward robot weight.

[Matt C]

There are at least a few teams that reuse their crate from year to year. I do not believe that the shipping SIZE requirements have changed much within the last 6-7 years at least. If possible, I suggest building a crate with a hinged door on one side as this makes it MUCH easier to load and unload at your competition(s).

Having the ability to reuse the same crate from year to year elminates recurring costs of time and materials that go into building one.

My high school team (311 Red Jammers) had a welded steel framed crate we used. It could have dropped off the truck with no adverse effects (to the crate ).

Also, remember to leave mounting/rigging considerations in your crate so you can secure your robot.

Unless you want to consider shipment part of an "endurance test" for your robot.

[Bsteckler]

Originally Posted by Mentor007

too much weight resulting in freight overages.

Don't ship the batteries with the robot, they add about 20 to 30 lbs to the total weight.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Bsteckler

Don't ship the batteries with the robot, they add about 20 to 30 lbs to the total weight.

That depends on individual teams to decide, especially if you cant bring them to the event from home.

[pacoliketaco]

Originally Posted by Bsteckler

Don't ship the batteries with the robot, they add about 20 to 30 lbs to the total weight.

i think they weight a little more than that. at least 50. but the past year, we had one of the heaviest crates at NJ, at a little over 800lbs. i don't really know how we do it, but i think the crate itself weighs maybe 300. we built it to the specifications given in the kit, and i dont think anything (within reason) could break it. we are going to try to do something different this year to save weight, to avoid overage charges.

[Andrew141WOBOT]

We built ours a few years back, and it's still holding on. Each half has edges that are made from 2X4's, but the squares between them are made of honeycomb material. There are also fold up shelves in there, so we have some extra storage space at competition.

http://www.freewebs.com/wobot/apps/p...1259677&prev=1

[merybar]

I dont know if you are or not but MICHIGAN teams have a little different guidelines on crates this year....not sure exactly what those are going to be

[MrForbes]

This is the crate we made this year. Weight was low enough that we didn't get charged overage with just the robot in it.

Also it has a modular design, held together with deck screws, the top and sides can be quickly removed so the crate can be stored "flat"--we don't have suitable storage for the assembled crate, which is why we had to build a third one in three years. This one might work for 2009 as well. Note also that it's not quite full height, we decided to make the robot so that it could be quickly "folded" to a lower height, which makes it so much easier to transport in the back of a school van for demonstrations.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by merybar

I dont know if you are or not but MICHIGAN teams have a little different guidelines on crates this year....not sure exactly what those are going to be

Not applicable. They're from Idaho.

A good test, if you have some daring people on your team: put 3-5 mentors/parents on top of the crate. If it holds, you're good that way. Now, have 2-3 people body slam the sides as hard as they can. If it breaks, make it stronger.

[synth3tk]

Originally Posted by EricH

Not applicable. They're from Idaho.

A good test, if you have some daring people on your team: put 3-5 mentors/parents on top of the crate. If it holds, you're good that way. Now, have 2-3 people body slam the sides as hard as they can. If it breaks, make it stronger.

Safety FIRST! You forgot to mention the helmets, padding, and paramedics. THEN you conduct the experiment.

[AdamHeard]

Batteries are a smidge under 14 lbs if I recall (and depending on the weight of your cable and connectors, could be 14).

It can be a hassle, but you are allowed to fly them; If I recall, it's 2 per person and you should double check the current TSA rules. However, at 14 lbs each, and many teams having 10 or so batteries, it can save A LOT of money.

And if you're driving to an event, no reason at all to ship them; you even get the added benefit of being able to charge them very recently before the competition.

Originally Posted by synth3tk

Safety FIRST! You forgot to mention the helmets, padding, and paramedics. THEN you conduct the experiment.

Eric is more of of a hardhat guy.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Eric is more of of a hardhat guy.

If I still have both of mine this spring... We'll see if I can do two at once.

(And yes, I have taken a direct hit to the hard hat from falling PVC. The head wasn't touched.)

[merybar]

Originally Posted by EricH

Not applicable. They're from Idaho.

A good test, if you have some daring people on your team: put 3-5 mentors/parents on top of the crate. If it holds, you're good that way. Now, have 2-3 people body slam the sides as hard as they can. If it breaks, make it stronger.

To this team your right its not appicable however to other rookie teams that are trying to build a crate that by any chance might do a little chief delphi search, than that would be good information to know.

[Red_Robin]

ok question: can the crate be made of metal?? like aluminum or something?? I swear I saw some teams at Nationals who had some, but I can't be quite sure. yes, I'm aware that fabbing a metal crate instead of wood will be much heavier; I'm trying to see ALL my options here before I present to the team and say "this is what we're building".

thanx : )

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Red_Robin

ok question: can the crate be made of metal?? like aluminum or something?? I swear I saw some teams at Nationals who had some, but I can't be quite sure. yes, I'm aware that fabbing a metal crate instead of wood will be much heavier; I'm trying to see ALL my options here before I present to the team and say "this is what we're building".

thanx : )

Yes. At least, in previous years, this question was asked (teams didn't want to ditch their metal crates), and the answer was "Metal is OK".