legality of bolt and screw heads breaking plane of chassis meeting bumpers

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by windell747

Hi,

I should have thought of this earlier, but our robot design is such that our wheel brackets are flush against the surface of the chassis of our robot. To assemble the wheel brackets, we use 1/4-20 cap screws and 3/8" bolts and such. Our bumpers mount to the chassis such that the plywood is flat against the C-channel.

When the wheel brackets are mounted to the chassis, the heads of the bolts holding the wheel brackets together extend into the plane that is between the bumper plywood and the chassis. Is this going to cause a problem with the rules?

I really hope not...because only the bolt heads go through this plane. Even with the bolt heads, our robot (wo bumpers) is within the volume restrictions.

Thanks for your time!
windell

According to the FRAME PERIMETER rules this year, these bolt heads will not be allowed. You will have to artificially inflate your frame perimeter (by gluing strips of wood, plastic, etc) around your chassis so the bolt heads that aren't within the BUMPER ZONE are within the FRAME PERIMETER.

It's a pretty dumb rule, but it is what it is. Hopefully it will be amended next year.