Screws, Tape, and other Electronic securities

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by Botwoon

We use double-sided tape to secure electronics much of the time, and we got ahold of a few different kinds of VHB tape this year. The one used in the below picture wasn't the type composed of foam, it's extremely thin and transparent. I haven't found a link to it yet.



The Crio was taped to the crossbar on the underside of the robot. The bar was pocketed and the remaining material was only slightly narrower than the width of the tape (about 3/4 of an inch). If you look at the pattern visible beside the Crio, you can probably estimate the total amount of tape we used. In our testing before the final mounting, it took a significant amount of force to break the bond even without even scuffing the anodized finish of the bar. It gave us no problems through the entirety of the season and the weekend in New Hampshire.

I asked in a previous thread about how a team uses "VHB" tape and found a curious answer. This spurred my interest and, being a post Head of Electrical for my team, got me wondering about how other teams secure their electronics.

For as long as I can remember, our team has used the screw holes in the motor controllers and other various electronics, save for the d-Link. The d-Link we Velcro-ed to the robot due to the necessity to remove it every now and again. As far as mounting them, we've gone through everything from wood to polycarb to polyethylene (this year).

Thoughts, comments, critiques on our practices?

[hammerhead_399]

This year, we used the perforated lexan found on AndyMark for our electronics board(each hole was about 1/4"). Most electronics were held down by zipties, and lucky enough, most screw holes lined up with the perforated lexan holes. For the cRIO, we used the screw holes to bolt it down. We also used Velcro for the D-Link. Never this year did we solely tape down an electronic unless it was for testing. On the electronics board, we color coded the zipties that held down certain wires(a color for power cables, a color for data cables). Most wiring done outside the electronics board was organized using spiral wrap.

[R.C.]

We used to use velcro for electronics till we started to make the "254/233" style belly pan. Ever since then we use bolts and tap the bellypan for the appropriate fastener.

We use this very strong double sided VHB. Its a black with a red shielding. Our sponsor uses it on their lighting fixtures, so they donate a good size roll to us every year.

We use VHB on anything that can't be held down with bolts. Such as the radio and other misc parts on the robot.

-RC

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by R.C.

We use VHB on anything that can't be held down with bolts. Such as the radio and other misc parts on the robot.
-RC

On that note, how does it fare to being taken off and put back on? Is there any residue or difficulties in removal? Velcro work for us, but occasionally we have longevity issues in the repeated application and removal, resulting in the potential failure in mounting.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by CalTran

On that note, how does it fare to being taken off and put back on? Is there any residue or difficulties in removal? Velcro work for us, but occasionally we have longevity issues in the repeated application and removal, resulting in the potential failure in mounting.

To remove it you have to literally twist it off, its held on there really really really darn well.

Once its removed, you can remove the excess, spray some brake cleaner or water and remove the residue.

More or less, when we apply VHB, we expect to never take it off again. Its been great for the radio/lexan in certain spots and misc other items.

In 2011, we used VHB tape to keep our steel strip on our minibot ramp down.

Its also great for pulling pranks (taping the toolbox shut and taping my coke can to a desk, silly kids)

-RC

[Aidan S.]

This year and the previous year, Team 610 has used 1/8 inch lexan as an electronics panel. We use bolts to secure the cRio, but all of the other components are held on with zip ties. The zip ties allow us to quickly remove and replace components, which is very helpful during competitions. The zip ties also save a bit of weight over using screws. We manually lay out our components on the panel, mark where the mounting holes are. Then we will remove the components, and drill the mounting holes using a power drill or a drill press.

Neatness is very important for out electrical team, so we do a few of things to keep our system clean and organized. All of our components are labeled, and the wires are labeled at both ends, to allow us to trace connections for troubleshooting and programming purposes. Our wires are kept to exact length, with no excess, and held to the panel using sticky feet and zip ties. All of our wires are run parallel to the frame, so there are no diagonal runs. This adds some length to the wires but keeps them more organized and collected. On moving attachments such as arms or turrets, we will collect all of the wires using some type of wire wrap or energy chain.

I have attached an image of the base panel of our 2012 robot to highlight some of our wiring techniques.

[Botwoon]

Originally Posted by CalTran

On that note, how does it fare to being taken off and put back on? Is there any residue or difficulties in removal? Velcro work for us, but occasionally we have longevity issues in the repeated application and removal, resulting in the potential failure in mounting.

This depends entirely upon the tape. The VHB tape we used for the Crio is intended to be permanent. We initially used it to attach our radio to the robot as well, which nearly separated the two halves of the radio's plastic shell when we had to remove it.

If you look at the lexan chainguards running along the underside of the robot, you can see the thicker gray VHB tape holding them to the frame. That stuff is very nearly as good as the transparent tape, and retains most of it's stickiness after one or two removals.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Spectrum normally uses dual-lock (like velcro but none of the fuzzy side, they use it on the lego league tables) and zip-ties for our electronics. We haven't had any problems with them. The cRIO normally gets bolted down since we don't switch it to often.

[gracie.]

Just the idea of taping on the cRIO makes me nervous, but maybe for no reason, since it sounds like the tape you guys are using is pretty hardcore stuff.

We usually screw everything down and velcro the wireless bridge (and anything that gets changed around at competition). I'd swap the quicker removal of velcro for the security of screws any day. This year we got the opportunity to laser-cut our board our of plastic~! (.25" ABS to be specific) We pounded threaded inserts into the lasered holes, and screwed in the electronics that way. It was great!!! But a word of advice if you try it: super glue your inserts in addition to pressing them in. You won't regret it later when you're trying to remove your electronics
on a side note- a really cool thing we got to do with the laser cutter was raster labels for all the components. Completely unnecessary, but really cool.

[DonRotolo]

We used to bolt/screw everything down, but this past season we used velcro - hook & loop type - for everything but the battery. Heavier stuff like the cRio got more square inches than light stuff like Jaguars. Never had anything come off when we didn't want it to, and swapping out Jags was a cinch. We'll probably do that again next year.

[theawesome1730]

As a member of Team Driven's electrical team, I can be very specific in what we do. We chose to use water jet cut lexan for our electronics baseplate with tapped holes for nylon bolts. The are strong enough, light and easy to remove and do a good job of holding everything down. As for the radio we use velcro since it needs to be removed often and the crio is held on with bolts.

[Botwoon]

Originally Posted by gracie.

Just the idea of taping on the cRIO makes me nervous, but maybe for no reason, since it sounds like the tape you guys are using is pretty hardcore stuff.

We were nervous about it until this match to be quite honest, which was late into our division elims.

[pmangels17]

271 uses two pieces of 1/4 inch clear corriboard, with channels running perpendicular. Then we screw in our stuff with 10-24's. Dont drill pilot holes or tap it, just press and screw. The CRIO got nuts and washers as well. Its lightweight, insulated, and clean looking. Also, its strong and panels of it can be placed anywhere on the robot. We create multiple electronic "penthouses" on the robot where everything is easily accessible. Also, keep wires organized with labels at both ends, and stick pads with zip ties. Although, taping soda cans may become more common

[gracie.]

Originally Posted by Botwoon

We were nervous about it until this match to be quite honest, which was late into our division elims.

If it survives jumping off a bridge and crashing into another robot, I guess that would give me a bit more piece of mind We'll still probably end up using screws though, if only because we couldn't afford to replace our cRIO if some harm came to it.

[sanddrag]

We used nylon socket head cap screws into 1/8" ABS, and velcro for the radio. Worked great, but you have to be careful when tapping the 1/8" ABS.