pic: 295 chassis 1/19/09

[spc295]

loading photo ...

[Pjohn1959]

So, no ground pick up this year?

[spc295]

its not in our strategy, but keep in mind this is just the frame. (waterjet cutters are awesome)

[chewy]

How much does that weigh as pictured?

It looks pretty light...

[waialua359]

How thick is the side rails of your frame?
With a lot of unanswered questions about the sides attached to bumpers and the cantilevered wheel questions, would that pass inspection?
The fact that the side rails are also lightened based on your cutouts, would that meet the bumper attachment rules?
My concern is that we have been discussing such options, but haven't figured whether it would pass or not.

[whosdadog]

Originally Posted by chewy

How much does that weigh as pictured?

It looks pretty light...

its weighs 21.4 lbs.

[whosdadog]

Originally Posted by waialua359

How thick is the side rails of your frame?
With a lot of unanswered questions about the sides attached to bumpers and the cantilevered wheel questions, would that pass inspection?
The fact that the side rails are also lightened based on your cutouts, would that meet the bumper attachment rules?
My concern is that we have been discussing such options, but haven't figured whether it would pass or not.

we are planing on attaching the bumpers on the side rails, and the front and back bumpers on the front and back rails, which have a 3/4 inch top and bottom for the bumpers. the wheels are not cantelevered, we just have not cut the axles back yet.

[spc295]

also the rails are made from 1/8" 5052 alloy

[waialua359]

I would check with the GDC committee, as it may help answer questions for a lot of other teams.
The fact that your cutouts are "open spaces" which does not provide backing to the bumpers may be an issue. We would like to know the answer also.

The reason why we haven't submitted a question similar (with a diagram), is because we dont have a frame yet. The GDC committee already stated that 1/8" rails are not strong enough, and thus, wont be allowed either.

[sdcantrell56]

I surely hope the GDC is not referring to 1/8" aluminum when used like this. This frame design is plenty strong enough and will not cause the robot to fail. That would be utterly absurd for the GDC to tell us that now we must build our frame out of 3/16" or 1/4" aluminum plate stock and that we also can't lighten the material.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by waialua359

The GDC committee already stated that 1/8" rails are not strong enough, and thus, wont be allowed either.

Glenn, I think you're grossly oversimplifying the Q&A response you're alluding to.

Originally Posted by GDC

A simple flat 1/8-inch aluminum plate mounted on standoffs is unlikely to provide the required structural support for the BUMPERS.

There's miles of difference between "one particular implementation of 1/8-inch plate on standoffs may not be allowed" and "nothing made of 1/8-inch aluminum will be allowed".

[Zultraranger]

So who constructed your chassis, Motorola?

[waialua359]

That may be true, however, after reading Dave's response to Cory, I would interpret it as such.
Dont get me wrong, I love this chassis.
The worst part is doing all of this work, and it not passing inspection. It doesnt hurt to ask the GDC. If they say its OK, it will help alleviate possible questions that other teams may have about similar setups.
I truly believe that this chasis will withstand any situations during the competitions this season, but its not a matter of opinion, its what's written in black and white.

Specifically, we wanted to put a thick solid plate on every section that a bumper is to be attached, except small portions where our wheels were (to allow easy access for changing them-cantilevered).

[spc295]

I would find it very hard to believe that this would not be allowed, especaily because its flanged.

[sdcantrell56]

Originally Posted by Zultraranger

So who constructed your chassis, Motorola?

What is this supposed to mean?