Help Sourcing Aluminium Chassis With Wheels or Tracks

Community General Discussions
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1

Hi;

I have only ever built a couple of robots, first using small serovs for motors and the second using one of these cheap kits. 

I am looking for a good aluminium chassis with either chucky wheels or tracks and more powerful motors.

Needs to have reasonable ground clearance and be able to negotiate carpets and door openings (the small step in between doors)

Probably going to stick to 6v Motors but better quality with more Torque or should I find one with 12v Motors?

This will be a Raspberry Pi based robot and be about the size of a small wast paper bin?

Any help with some recommendations would be great.

(UK based suppliers please).

2

Chassis with tracks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Aluminum-Alloy-Caterpillar-Tank-SUV-Wall-E-Robot-Chassis-For-DIY-/191987822590?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=PZEs4bWZMBU7afhq7CvQ6tNeKf8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

 

3

Platform Selection

RobotShop likely has something that will suit your needs here:

https://www.robotshop.com/uk/wheeled-development-platforms.html 

However, before suggesting specific platforms, I’ll address each point:

1) I am looking for a good aluminium chassis with either chucky wheels or tracks and more powerful motors. Needs to have reasonable ground clearance and be able to negotiate carpets and door openings (the small step in between doors)

Note that 4WD, 6WD and tracked rovers often have issues on carpet because in order to turn, the wheels / tracks are driven sideways. Think about a tank and how it tears up the ground when it turns. The easiest way to turn on carpet is actually a two wheel drive system. Example:

https://www.robotshop.com/uk/actobotics-3-wheel-robot-platform.html (motors sold separately so you can choose 6Vor 12V)

2) Probably going to stick to 6v Motors but better quality with more Torque or should I find one with 12v Motors?

Whatever you choose, the battery pack should match the nominal voltage of the motor. For the same power, a 12V motor will consume less current than a 6V motor, so your motor controller can be lower current (and cheaper).

4) This will be a Raspberry Pi based robot and be about the size of a small wast paper bin?

If you plan to use a Raspberry Pi, then a 12V motor / battery pack is best since you would need a voltage regulator, and going from 6V to 5V efficiently is harder to do than from 12V to 5V. 

4

Thanks for the

Thanks for the comments.

Looks like i’ll go for 12v motors,

Also it looks like I may have some funding for my project, not a lot but it may help.

I am considering something like this or this , maybe not these particular ones but that’s the style?