Skins

Technical Technical Discussion
1

In trying to shed some weight, we are looking for alternatives for our skins, which we originally had hoped would be 1/4" plywood sandwiched between aluminum sheets.

I have seen a cardboard type structure, inwhich plastic was sandwiched between aluminum sheets. It is pretty light (approx 0.75lbs/ft^2), but I also think is illegal, since it comes as a finished material with the plastic in a “wave” form like the inside of cardboard.

Any thoughts/ideas?

Thanks,
Scott358

2

We took some the corrugated paneling your describing from Tony this afternoon.

I, too, wondered about it’s legality, but might it be considered a non-functional decoration? . . . or does the competitive nature of this year’s game make such paneling functional?

I’m curious to know about what you decide, or find out, since we’re in a similar situation. We’d planned on Lexan, but the corrugated material is much, much lighter.

3

If you are looking for skin. Look at what race cars use.

I think you can get aluminum as low as .024" thick.

Take this and put very slight bends and you can make a very strong skin.

This aluminum comes in different colors to. you don’t even have to paint it.

just go to a race car builder and they can show you all kinds of good stuff. even color revits.

4

Guys,
Unless you are trying to conform to special curves or angles, Lexan is available in many thicknesses, is easily cut with knife or shears, drills easy for pop rivets and takes to having inkjet backgrounds affixed to the inside for protection.
Al

5

Al, the material we’re describing is lighter than lexan, though structurally weaker.

In the case of team 810, we’re considering using it only as the side panels of our robot, and nothing else.

We’re unclear as to if it’s legal, and, if it’s not - if it might be considered a non-functional decoration.

6

Since you are using it in place of something else that is heavier, it would not be non-functional (functional for you people who hate double negatives ;))

It does have a function…which is saving weight. Your robot wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t have it :wink: