pic: Madtown Robotics Drive Proto

[R.C.]

Craig, Thanks a lot. That advice helped a lot. We did run FEA on the frame when I finished the design. I had more pocketed out way too much, including the top. The engineer told me that was way too much and it crumbled under the FEA tests. So that is why we have the bracing setup it like that and you can see that the top of the tubing is not pocketed out.

The gearbox won't be mounted like that, last year we mounted the gearbox with more support. I was hoping to add more support when I included the mast of the forklift or Arm. I had a question about the plates, if i use delrin. How thick should it be and do i leave everything solid except the holes for the bearings? (I will be moving the bolts down)

My purpose was to lose weight, I will redesign them after i get feedback on the thickness of those plates.

The gears will be prefabricated, http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=70259. This sponsor would do it for us. But we are thinking that it would be better to use steel and use an index to make some holes.

Craig thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to be redesigning to your suggestions. If you have any more suggestions, please post it. The reason for shaving so much weight is. Every pound matters to our team, we always add stuff and every year and bearly make the weight limit. But that was because our stuff was way too solid.