Base and shell question

Hi

Rather than use plastic (HDPE) sheet and build a bulk headed robot, I'd rather cut a base plate and bolt everything to that. Then have a shell that I'll make and have that attach over the top with holes cut in for the wheels to protrude through. The main problem I'm having is coming up with a reliable method of attaching a shell to the base. It has to be really rugged and strong but also easy enough to remove to charge batteries etc. Can anyone point me in the right direction or describe how their shells attach etc?

Thanks a lot

Dave

I use wood screws to attach the sides and top to my shell, if you use enough and in the right places it can give a good rugged construction.

Hannibalito 3 uses a T-shaped frame, and the shell is mounted on with a sturdy, reinforced hinge at the front. at the back it's hold on with 2 M8 bolts. By undoing the 2M8 bolts, the shell pivots like a car-hood.

It's also our most userfriendly machine. Changing CO2 bottle and recharging batteries takes less than 10 minutes.

i used m4 wood inserts on my first plastic bot and it held it together well and it made it easy to take apart

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M4-x-8mm-Unhe ... 303&_uhb=1

Thank you for the replies! A hinged shell is genious!! The inserts and bolts sound awesome too. Do you use a captive nut etc for the bolts to thread into?

Hannibalitos shell is bolted to the steel frame and hinge. The shell itself is bend and welded HDPE.

For the bolts that hold plates on the shell I used ali blocks bolted seperatly to the shell.