FrameI decided to make the frame out of alumunim channel. It is light weight and strong, and it just so happens that it comes in sizes that nest together. This nesting is very important as this allows me to put two sizes together to make a square tube that is even stronger and gives me a jointing method. | |
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| To construct the frame, I first decided how big I wanted the robot to be. Due to the types of motors I chose and the drive train construction I had already done, I knew that the axle was 16 inches long, so I chose the width to be 16.5 inches. I wanted the robot to be about 20-22 inches long, so I decided to make the frame 19 inches long to allow for some overhang and sensor switches. I also knew that the wheels and motors together were 4.5 inches wide. Using this information I cut the following pieces of channel. There are two sizes of channel. I will call the large channel (3/4 by 3/4 by 1/16) LC and the small channel (41/64 by 1/2 by 1/16). |
| Nbr | Type | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | SC | 19" | Main Beams |
| 2 | LC | 8" | Main Beams Front |
| 2 | LC | 8.6" | Main Beams Back |
| 2 | LC | 16.5" | Cross Beams |
| 4 | SC | 4.75" | Cross Beams - Sides |
| 3 | SC | 5.5" | Cross Beams - Center |
| 1 | LC | 7" | Cross Beam - Back Center |
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These sizes are approximate and may be off by as much as 1/8th inch. You should hand fit the pieces yourself. | |||
| Since I wanted the frame up against the motors, that meant that the two main beams had to be |