Shipping Crates

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by EricH

There have also been a number of crate shipping issues in the past. Anything from the crate falling apart in transit to being opened to getting hit by the tongue of a forklift. While you can't prevent all of them, you can alleviate the issues by building a strong crate. However, you will also need a light crate.

You left out this

And I second the recommendation to wait until after kickoff to build a new crate, as it seems to be likely that things may change this year. I would not stop the researching and the design, but would not actually spend any money just yet...

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pahl

You left out this

Mainly because I didn't know about it...

There've been discussions on this in the past, and I have to say, the above incident types are serious and more common than you might think. 330 took a forklift tine through the front of the crate with the robot inside. The tine missed the robot by being at the level of the wood block used to secure the robot. This is through some aluminum sheet stock that isn't exactly foil...

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by EricH

There've been discussions on this in the past, and I have to say, the above incident types are serious and more common than you might think. 330 took a forklift tine through the front of the crate with the robot inside. The tine missed the robot by being at the level of the wood block used to secure the robot. This is through some aluminum sheet stock that isn't exactly foil...

I worked for an overnight express company (Airborne Express, now defunct) for two years at night loading freight. I've seen things a lot more expensive and harder to repair/replace than a FRC bot run thru with a forklift, dropped, crushed, etc. Sometimes due to the incompetence of the people on the dock, sometimes due to the incompetence of the people that packed it.

All I can say is make sure the crate is solid, make sure the robot is fastened down securely inside (yes, I've heard stories of teams just putting the bot in the box...), and hope for the best. If you can afford it, insurance doesn't hurt.

We did all that last year, and still had half a dozen broken welds on the robot when we opened the crate in WI. One reason I hate welding on robots, that's tough to fix at the event.

In short, pack it well, and hope for the best. They go thru a lot of hands between the time they are picked up on ship day and when you see them again. Some spend a lot of miles in the back of a truck. Where they ride in that truck can make a big difference in the abuse they see.

[Pjohn1959]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pahl

You left out this

And this

[Andrew Schreiber]

Wait until Kickoff. Crate Rules can change and there have been hints they will. You have been warned.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1923 May be of some assistance to you.