FRC 1726 Wood Chassis prototype

Playing with the bare wood chassis prototype. Note that the chassis is shown upside down! the fully covered side is the bottom. This is a design concept for a wood robot chassis for the FIRST Robotics Competition. It would probably be a six wheel drive robot, with 6" diameter wheels, supported on cantilevered dead axles, and with bumpers on the sides to cover the wheels. Drive could be by a centrally mounted Toughbox or other transmission, with a single chain on each side between the wheels and the side of the chassis.

The dimensions of this prototype are about 36" long, about 26" wide, with about 2.25" offset of the side rails. The frame members are 5.5" tall, and made of 3/4" birch plywood. The bottom panel and top gussets are 7/32" plywood, glued and stapled to the sides.

Total cost for the wood (precut 2' x 4' plywood) was about $20 at the local building supply store. Time to cut the wood and assemble was just over an hour, with three people working in a moderately equipped shop (table saw, cutoff saw, pneumatic staple gun).

Weight of the whole assembly is less than 14 pounds. Notice there are no lightening holes.

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