NameThatPart

Knowing the name of things is part of the challenge of building things; it's difficult to do internet searches if you don't know the name of the thing you're looking for, even harder if you don't know it even exists. This page contains some things useful for building robots that you might not know the name of, so you can get a start.

Materials

Plastics

• Polycarbonate
• PLA
• ABS
• Nylon
• Delrin / Acetal
• HDPE / UHMW

Composites

• FR4 / G10: This material goes by several names including GRP (Glass reinforced polymer), FRP (fiber reinforced plastic), G-10[1], and Garolite. It's made of resin reinforced by glass fibers. G10 is available in sheets, rods, corner angles, etc.[2] According to ULS, this material can be laser cut with a CO₂ laser.[3] FR4[4] is also flame retardant, and is a common material for circuit boards.[5]
  • G10 has very high strength compared to unreinforced plastics, and is resistant to abrasion and cracking. In combat robotics it can be used as lightweight armor[6] or structural members in insect weight classes. It's an insulator, and won't short out electronics even if opponents attack and shred it.
  • Safety: Use appropriate protective gear to avoid inhaling glass fibers when cutting or handling this material.

Fasteners

List of common types and what they do

• Nuts, bolts screws
  • Shoulder bolt
  • Locking nut / Nyloc nut
  • Threaded inserts aka "Insert nuts" - an internally threaded part which can be pushed or screwed into a softer material to allow a machine screw / bolt to be attached strongly and repeatedly. Some types

• Rivets and other one-time fasteners
  • Rivnuts / rivet nuts

Other hardware

• Threaded rod
• Nut strips