Hinges & Crates

[Team 849]

Can we use hinges on the shipping crate?

[Nate Laverdure]

There's no documentation on hinges, per say, but I think you'll be OK if you use them. 612 has has hinged sections on our crate for a while and so have many other teams. From the rule book:

Originally Posted by 2007 FIRST Manual, Robot Transportation Section

All Crates must:
1) Comply with the “Wood Materials Regulations Across U.S. Borders” section below if the crate ships into the U.S.
2) Loaded crate must weigh 400 pounds or less in order to avoid drayage overage charges
3) Be sturdily built to prevent damage to your equipment
4) *Use 3/8” or 1/2” plywood
5) *Use 3/8” or 1/2” Oriented Strand Board (OSB), a solid panel product of consistent quality with no laps, gaps, or voids.
6) *Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is Not recommended for crate building because the material makes crate construction too heavy, and MDF can be dangerous to use if the correct safety precautions are not taken. MDF contains a substance called urea formaldehyde, which may be released from the material through cutting and sanding and cause irritation to the eyes and lungs.
7) *Don’t use particleboard because it collects moisture that adds weight and may cause the crate to fall apart. Remember, your crate may be exposed to the elements
when loading and unloading trucks.
8) Ensure your crate construction can withstand stacking during transport
9) "Sit" on 2 pieces of 4" by 4" lumber, spaced at least 28" apart so it can be moved by a forklift.
10) Have a footprint no greater than 4' by 4' and be no taller than 5'10" (70") high. This maximum includes the 4" by 4" lumber mentioned above.

[GMKlenklen]

another popular way to do it is to use t-nuts and bolts to keep one face on. that way you don't have to deal with a door in the tight pit area.