We’re having issues creating an octagonal chassis for a holonomic drive.
Without using the 45 degree gussets, is there any good way to do this without cutting any metal while still using channels with square (as opposed to rectangular) holes?
Thanks!
Assuming you’re using any C channel, you can easily screw the pieces the together in an octagonal shape.
The ends of the C channel easily connect at an angle.
1000B once mounted a motor at a 45 degree angle making a right triangle of cut 1 X 25’s each 3 holes long, I know you said no cut metal, but seeing as 1 x 25 isnt any important structural or building material you might be okay with it. Also, you could bend it instead
If your goal is to have things mounted at 45 degrees (actually 135 degrees) you could take a few 1x25’s and bend them and attach them to get more points of contact. What we found that worked well were angle gussets (those pieces of metal that look like baseball fields) to make an inner octagon. Then we used omni-wheels and swerve drive kits to make “pods” which gave the wheels two points of contact (we also had some structural metal + standoffs).
The other way we built the octagon was using a 35x35 square, 15x C-channel, and 15x Chassis rail. You basically create a plus in the center with the C channel, and those give you the places to mount your Chassis rail. Its a little heavy and big, but it is extremely sturdy (maybe to a fault). Without cutting metal its a little hard to get the desired angles you want. Team 368 has this really nice chassis made from those ~15" slide channels, its much lighter.