Fabrication

As a mechanical engineer on the team you will be working in the shop constantly. The shop is a da...

Appropriate clothing and hair management are essential for maintaining a safe working environment...

The safety of all team members is the highest priority. In the event of an emergency, students sh...

Digital Calipers 1.Close the jaws of the calipers shut. 2.Click the "Zero" Button on the calipe...

There are 3 different ways to measure with calipers. 1.Measuring the external dimension of a par...

Fasteners are components used to mechanically join two or more parts together. In FRC, fasteners ...

Bolt and Nut A bolt passes through two or more materials and is secured with a nut on the opposi...

Phillips screws are cross-head fasteners designed to allow controlled slipping (cam-out) under hi...

Washers are thin discs placed under fastener heads or nuts. Flat Washers Distribute load over...

Nylock nuts contain a nylon insert that increases friction on the threads. Advantages: Resist...

Rivets are permanent mechanical fasteners used to join materials, especially aluminum. Common si...

When to Use Use blue threadlocker when: Fasteners are exposed to vibration A joint must stay...

Rectangular aluminum extrusion is used in FRC to build robot frames and structural mechanisms. Th...

Accurate measurement is critical in FRC fabrication. Small errors can cause misaligned parts and ...

Accurate hole placement in FRC depends on using a consistent datum and properly marking drill loc...

Accurate layout work in FRC depends on clearly marking where cuts and holes will be made. Scribin...

"Measure twice, cut once" What Is Tolerance? Tolerance defines how far a part can deviate fro...

T-handles and wrenches are common hand tools used in FRC for installing and removing fasteners. C...

Ratchets and sockets are common hand tools in FRC used for quickly tightening or loosening nuts a...

Pliers and vice grips are gripping tools used in FRC for holding, bending, and temporarily securi...

Deburring tools are used in FRC fabrication to remove sharp edges (burrs) created after cutting, ...

Clamps are holding tools used in FRC fabrication to secure parts together during assembly, drilli...

Selecting the correct drill bit size is important for proper fastener fit, tapping, and hole accu...

A pilot hole is a small hole drilled before the final hole size. Pilot holes improve accuracy and...

Both drill presses and hand drills are commonly used in FRC fabrication. Choosing the correct too...

Proper feed pressure and drill speed are important for producing clean holes, extending tool life...

Rivets are permanent mechanical fasteners commonly used in FRC for joining thin materials such as...

Blind rivets (also called “pop rivets”) are a common fastening method in FRC used to join materia...

Blind rivets are a common fastening method in FRC used to join sheet metal, gussets, and extrusio...

A rivet gun is a tool used to install blind rivets in FRC. It works by pulling a mandrel through ...

Rivets are simple to install, but small errors can lead to weak joints, misalignment, or failed a...

A tapped hole is a drilled hole that has internal threads cut into it so a screw or bolt can be d...

Page — Tap Drill Hole Sizes (10-32 and 1/4-20) Before tapping a hole, the correct drill bit diam...

A hand tap is a tool used to cut internal threads into a drilled hole so that a screw or bolt can...

Cutting fluid is a lubricant used during drilling and tapping to reduce friction and heat. Why...

Preventing broken taps comes down to control, preparation, and patience. Key Habits Drill t...

Aluminum is one of the most important materials in FRC. Different aluminum series have very diffe...

Steel is a strong, heavy metal sometimes used in FRC for high-strength or wear-resistant applicat...

Polycarbonate (often called “polycarb”) is a tough, transparent plastic widely used in FRC for pr...

SRPP is a glass-filled polypropylene sheet material commonly used in FRC, often supplied or popul...

Plywood is a layered wood composite made by pressing thin sheets of wood veneer together with alt...

3D printing filaments in FRC form a spectrum of materials that trade off between ease of printing...

Each material used in FRC has distinct mechanical and manufacturing properties that determine how...

Sheet materials in FRC come in standard thickness increments. These increments strongly affect st...

10-32 is the most common fastener size used in FRC. It provides a good balance of strength, weigh...

1/4-20 hardware is commonly used in FRC for high-load applications where additional strength is n...

Shafts are rotating elements used to transmit torque through a robot’s mechanisms. In FRC, differ...

Bearings and bushings support rotating shafts and reduce friction between moving parts. They are ...

Plastic washers are low-friction spacing components commonly used in FRC to reduce wear, prevent ...

Standoffs are rigid spacers with threaded ends or through-holes used to separate and support two ...

Gussets are flat structural plates used to reinforce joints between two or more components, typic...