Material Comparison Chart

Paper

Paper & cardboard can be used to prototyping shapes. It can be easily cut and trimmed. Also useful for transferring drawings.

Wood

For structural purposes, the hardest woods are advisable to handle large loads and resist splitting for bolt attachments. Examples include maple, cherry and oak. Composite woods can be considered as well, such as aircraft quality plywood. These are fairly lightweight and can withstand large force and vibration.

Balsa can be used for heat insulation. Can be used to separate hot components from heat sensitive ones.

Plastic

-        Thermoset plastics are hard and have a tightly meshed molecular structure. Thermoset plastics can only be shaped by machining. It is used in products requiring structural strength.

-         Elastomers have similar molecular structure to thermosets, though more flexible and elastic.

-         Thermoplastics have different thicknesses for different applications, from plastic bags to Plexiglas. Shape can be changed by heat. Sheets of polystyrene can be formed into covers and bodies for a robot using heat and a vacuum forming process.

Metal stock

-         Extruded Aluminum

-         Shelving standards

-         Mending plates: strengthen joints. Holes can be drilled using sharp drill bits, however, it is only used in large robots due to heavy weight.

-         Rods and Squares: solid but heavy. Can be used for robotic arms.

-         Iron angle Brackets: galvanized brackets used to connect metal pieces together. Variety of shapes.

Fasteners

-         Nuts and bolts

-         Washers

-         All-thread Rod

-         Special Nuts

-         Rivets- vibration resistant

-         Adhesive

-         Welding

-         Clamps

-         Ties

-         Cables

Reference

[McCOMB06]

Concept Designs