Gussets

[headlight]

Originally Posted by EricH

Why would a normal frame sideplate or bellypan need to be pocketed? Think carefully...

If you can remove weight where you don't need the strength, you can save a couple of pounds that can be better used for other things.

While it is true that a gusset won't often need to be pocketed, sometimes that isn't the case--a particularly large gusset would be a prime target for pocketing in areas where the loads it's seeing don't travel.

Hmm. Didn't consider that. Since the perimeter reduction weight has become less of an issue.

How thick are the gussets people commonly use on robots? We've stuck to stuff that is 1/8" thick or less.

Also, is there really that much of a strength advantage to pocketing a gusset vs. drilling holes or another feature completely through it? If you think about it, they should be very similar in terms of performance.

Do you have any pictures of pocketed gussets? I found the team 100 picture from last offseason but they didn't really "pocket" their gussets, they milled completely through them with a weight reduction pattern.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by headlight

Do you have any pictures of pocketed gussets? I found the team 100 picture from last offseason but they didn't really "pocket" their gussets, they milled completely through them with a weight reduction pattern.

I would guess that that's what was meant by "pocket" by the OP. It's the same basic principle as pocketing a gearbox plate or similar item, just the pocket happens to be as deep as the plate is thick.

[Sohaib]

Originally Posted by EricH

I would guess that that's what was meant by "pocket" by the OP. It's the same basic principle as pocketing a gearbox plate or similar item, just the pocket happens to be as deep as the plate is thick.

I meant pocketing out areas of gussets where there would not be as much stress in order to save weight on larger gussets.