hey, i know this is off the subject, but i need some suggestions on the crate that we ship our robot in-
-material to make it out of and basic designs(i know the demisions)
-organization of the inside (shelf, boxes of parts, robot protection?)
*Originally posted by BenfromPike *
**hey, i know this is off the subject, but i need some suggestions on the crate that we ship our robot in-
-material to make it out of and basic designs(i know the demisions)
-organization of the inside (shelf, boxes of parts, robot protection?)
For the crate, you can just make it out of wood with your school name, etc. spraypainted or written on the sides. Also, I donāt think you really need boxes of parts or shelves in the crate since youāll be bringing that to the competition with you instead of shipping it. As for robot protectionā¦Robot protection? Whatās that? 
Last year, we made ours out of wood, and was the maximum dimensions.
The two sides folded out for display space, the front was removable and turned into a table, the bottom came out for more storage of small parts, and we had locking drawers and some extra shelfs on the fixed back wall.
You donāt really have to put all the storage in, but it was easier for us than bringing it seperatly to the comps.
We got a team award for the design:D
oops, didnāt see the design partā¦
well ours was basically six pieces of wood cut out with removable sides that can fold out to take the robot out. also, make sure you do a good job attaching the pieces and then making it shiny, smooth, and unblistery (a part of the team spent a weekend doing that because it takes a while for it to dry)
thanks for the help but-
Did you re-enforce the side with 2x4ās or just use plywood for them???
Our team is actually considering using extruded aluminum and lexanā¦ turning it into a display case as wellā¦ and since our bot is made out of the same stuff, itās gonna look tiiiiiiight.
yay! three weeks!
*Originally posted by Dave *
**Our team is actually considering using extruded aluminum and lexanā¦ turning it into a display case as wellā¦ and since our bot is made out of the same stuff, itās gonna look tiiiiiiight.
yay! three weeks! **
Oooooā¦Jim likeyā¦
Well, our school, Dillard High, shares its facilities with two magnet programsā¦The Tech magnet and teh Arts Magent. We basically build a big plywood box (Must change to metalā¦) and give it a nice paint job. We get some art students to sketch up some pics and then we all laugh as the tech students (myself included) attempt to paint a boxā¦its not a pretty siteā¦especially in a 105 degree room which houses the air conditioning equipmentā¦ (it looks like somone forgot to put a vent IN that roomā¦)
hey dude from floridaā
I donāt want to hear about you Air conditioning problems-- it is 12 degrees F here now and we will have a wind chill of -25 in the morning---- so shut up
Lesseā¦ today working on the robot we moved outside the garage, 'cause it was sunny and 70 degrees, it was sooo nice. We got more work done than ever beforeā¦ but at least you guys can throw a snowball occasionallyā¦
We can throw the occasional snowball here, only to have our hands nearly freeze off. Ever seen commericals where a little kid gets his full outfit of snow gear on and says āmom, i have to peeāā¦that happens!
Haā¦itās not cold out. Itās like 0F out or somethingā¦I still donāt need a coat. Driving while shivering uncontrollably is hardā¦especially when the windshield refreezes and the transmission wonāt shift. Yay for cold!
Anyways, to get back on topicā¦
We use plywood and 2x4ās for ours, I believe. Itās not very fancy but it works. We made a fancy little sign for the side. Itās very pretty. Screw paint I recommend using the max. crate sizeā¦since thereās not much of a point to making a smaller one.
We ship the robot on foam so the wheels are off the ground and so it canāt slide easily. I think we put a layer of bubble wrap around it to ease any bumping.
Wow is it really that cold? Itās starting to warm up around here.
I just checked the thermometerā¦0F I thought I was exagerating. Hehe.
Our crate builders made a frame of 2 x 4ās first, then screwed the plywood onto them. They are using different latches and hasps so that we can use it as a display if we choose to. You could also use aluminum angle ironā¦(the kind with holes drilled in) to support the plywood, but 2 x 4ās will give better support. Remember that you must place 4 x 4ās under the crate, at least 28 inches apart for the forklift to be able to move it around. Those pieces are heavy too.
You need to keep a check on the weight of the crate, because the drayage company will REALLY STICK IT TO YOU if you are overweight. See the information in the shipping and administration section of the manual. You should make sure that your crate is under 200 lbs. Remember that your robot will be 130 or less, and you must also ship your controls and battery in the crate as well. even your packing material will have weight.
Donāt go over 400 lbs total.
*Originally posted by BenfromPike *
**hey dude from floridaāI donāt want to hear about you Air conditioning problems-- it is 12 degrees F here now and we will have a wind chill of -25 in the morning---- so shut up
We have two seasons here, 1.) Hot and Humid 2.) Hotter and still humid
I hate this stateā¦as soon as I can Iām moving
hey i guess i canāt complain when we get 2 hour deleys from school because the elementry school kids would freeze if they had to stand at the bus stop in that wind
By the way - we have had 2 delays today and tomorrow!!!
Does anyone have drawings (or at least photos) of crates such as the one described in the first part of this thread? We have a volunteer to build our crate for us and Iād love to have one versatile enough to be our pit workbench and storage area if we can build that into it.
BTW:
Metro Phoenix forecast
Today
H: 75
L: 52
A weak low pressure trough will pass over leaving some clouds for Thursday and keeping highs from jumping into to the upper 70ās. The weekend looks fine with above normal highs.
Fri H: 76 L: 50
Sat H: 75 L: 51
Sun H: 75 L: 50
Mon H: 74 L: 50
Tue H: 73 L: 49
Wed H: 73 L: 47
hehe!
I think as much effort goes into designing the crate as designing the robot. Itās going to be the craziest crate youāve ever seen, or so Iāve heard.
Weather wussiesā¦its nice and warm up hereā¦
TORONTO
18 Hour Forecast:
Evening
FLURRIES
-11Ā°
Overnight
PARTLY CLOUDY
-20Ā°
Morning
CLOUDY PERIODS
-15Ā°
Extended Forecast:
Friday
CLOUDY PERIODS
LO/HI
-20/-10Ā°
Saturday
PARTLY CLOUDY
LO/HI
-11/-4Ā°
Sunday
SNOW
LO/HI
-9/-7Ā°
As for the crate, we just used plywood last year, and it only held the bot.
This year, since weāre going to more āexoticā locations, weāre building to max size (4x4x6), and puting the bot, tools, etc in it. Gonna build some shelving in for sure, might make it a table as well (since the tables we get at the comps are crap-tacular).
And as far as I know, weāre just gonna be using plywood again. Might re-enforce it with some spare extruded aluminum. Maybe we will have some Lexan left overā¦Maybe we can put in some viewing portalsā¦
What type of geometry did you all use to support the plywood sides (i.e. Crosses like on the sides of barns; or strait pieces along sides or up and down)
- how did you seal it so that it would stay shut and so you could open it easily
Thanks