pic: Team 3266 CAD project

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by akoscielski3

When designing a chassis i've always tried to line the wheels up. I dont know if it makes a difference at all though. Im not saying you should line them up, but does anybody know if lining the wheels up vs letting them be off make a difference in performance, or efficiency?? Thanks

179 and 234 have both used offset wheel 6wd several times with good success. I don't know that it necessarily provides any advantage (the tapered ends do, but the wheel placement itself I can't comment on), but it certainly didn't seem to have any negative effects.

[Garrett.d.w]

Beautiful first model. Keep up the good work.

If you want a real challenge, then add chain runs (depending on the program this can either be a nightmare or a few simple clicks). Adding the chain runs will let you know how your wheels and sprockets are going to be lined up.

[BurkeHalderman]

I'd like to use a one or two piece bumper on it, is there a specific way anybody would recommend mounting that?

Also I CADed a belly pan for the drivetrain. It is .05" aluminum with no lightening holes. Will that be strong enough to hold the electronics without flexing or should I use 1/16" or 1/8" maybe with lightening holes?

[akoscielski3]

Originally Posted by BurkeHalderman

I'd like to use a one or two piece bumper on it, is there a specific way anybody would recommend mounting that?

This is how i was gonna mount our bumpers. They aren't two piece bumpers but could easily become a two piece bumper. I have a slot that the bumper would be mounted to, it is slotted so you can easily adjust them to the proper hieght, and then tighten it so it is always be that hieght. They are gonna have a quick release, most likely a pin (like on a trailer that would go on the tongue), that goes through the top hole. the bumper brace is detatched and stays on the bumper, not onto the robot.

http://s1220.photobucket.com/albums/...umperBrace.png

[Gray Adams]

Originally Posted by BurkeHalderman

I'd like to use a one or two piece bumper on it, is there a specific way anybody would recommend mounting that?

Also I CADed a belly pan for the drivetrain. It is .05" aluminum with no lightening holes. Will that be strong enough to hold the electronics without flexing or should I use 1/16" or 1/8" maybe with lightening holes?

I would be scared to use .05". Talk to whoever is going to make it for you if they have a lot experience with sheet metal. .125" is nice and strong if you secure it well, but it can easily bend and flex on its own. I can't imagine how weak .05" would be attached, let alone just by itself. I think ours is about 4.3lbs, but it's full of holes. Without holes, Inventor quotes about 10.5lbs.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Gray Adams

I would be scared to use .05". Talk to whoever is going to make it for you if they have a lot experience with sheet metal. .125" is nice and strong if you secure it well, but it can easily bend and flex on its own. I can't imagine how weak .05" would be attached, let alone just by itself. I think ours is about 4.3lbs, but it's full of holes. Without holes, Inventor quotes about 10.5lbs.

.125" as a bellypan works perfectly well to make a rigid chassis.

[Gray Adams]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

.125" as a bellypan works perfectly well to make a rigid chassis.

Maybe I wasn't clear, but that's what we're using and it definitely is strong enough for our purposes.