Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 3973
Location: ipswich QLD
featherweight arena door jam?
So when the roof is on... the door was jammed so tight that we needed a hammer then a crowbar to open it. Should we just take an inch off the bottom and an inch off the top of the door. Then just cover the cracks with ali?
Do we need to beef up the hinges? Or will that not need to happen if the door has more room to move?
Better just do this especially if the arena is going to sydney.
at the moment the bottom of the door has a 1cm
gap
probably overkill but i can gett em from the steel place here in ip..if we like them. _________________ Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
www.mulesfilm.com.au www.wombokforest.com.au
-Pickasso- Vivid Sportsman champion 2015
Sat Jan 24, 2015 4:36 pm
Daniel Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 2729
Location: Gold Coast
that big hinge would allow the door to be lifted up?
Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:46 pm
Glen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 9481
Location: Where you least expect
Absolutely cut an inch - if not more off the top and bottom then cover the gap with flat steel welded to the door frame
You would weld one hinge the opposite way as well to constrain it ;p
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 3973
Location: ipswich QLD
Ok sounds good….yep that hinge can slide up and take the door off …would there be any benefit in that cause once the roof pushing down it would pinch the door frame regardless. _________________ Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
www.mulesfilm.com.au www.wombokforest.com.au
Cut as much off as you think is suitable but we will need to seal it with some steel plate on the door so there is no gaps. _________________ Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com
Sat Jan 24, 2015 8:15 pm
Jaemus Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 01 Apr 2009
Posts: 2674
Location: NSW
Good call on getting this sorted out. Jammed door always looks a bit unprofesh and to the more nervous spectator could seem outright dangerous in case of fire etc _________________ <Patrician|Away> what does your robot do, sam
<bovril> it collects data about the surrounding environment, then discards it and drives into walls
Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:26 pm
Daniel Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 2729
Location: Gold Coast
I know what went wrong with the door. The door frame had twisted, but not from the weight of the roof but rather from the bottom of the wall being kicked out in the centre of the wall and the roof beams pulling the top straight. The door frame took most of the stress due to it being allowed to flex more then the standard wall sections.
I'm will to bet that is why the door doesn't have problems when we set up with no roof and I reckon there would be less of an issue if we had the roof beams running parallel to the door rather than how we set it up with them perpendicular.
Let me set it up and test it next event before you cut.
Sun Jan 25, 2015 10:53 pm
miles&Jules Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 3973
Location: ipswich QLD
That would be good…but we won't really know till we do a full roof setup with polly carb…which won't happen till nats …then its to late. _________________ Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
www.mulesfilm.com.au www.wombokforest.com.au
-Pickasso- Vivid Sportsman champion 2015
Mon Jan 26, 2015 2:14 am
seanet1310
Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 1265
Location: Adelaide
If Daniel is correct the polycarb should not be the major stresser as it is for the most part just sitting in place and screwed down. The stress comes from the very ridged trusses we run along the top of the arena combined with the bolted together (and it bowing out)
To get an idea if the theory is correct (sounds good to me) you could set up the roof Truss (no polycarb) our normal way and test the door. Then change it to running parallel to the door and test the door again. Before you move the truss get someone with steal caps or a robot and drive it into a few walls to bow them out as we see during events.
Would take a little bit of time (bring some silicone lube or similar so you don't spend ages fighting with the truss like we did at Nats) but should not take too long.
Downside is you need to set up the full arena size and my understanding is sometimes you go small for the backyard events. _________________ Remember to trust me, I am an Engineer.
Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 2729
Location: Gold Coast
quote:Originally posted by marto:
I would still cut it down and beef up the hinges. It happens every time so more clearance is a good thing in my opinion.
Is there any negatives to the door having more clearance?
Steve
The problem is trying to fix a problem before you find out what is causing it.
I could test the problem without setting up the full arena
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