OK, Have finished fabbing up the prototype. Pictures below. First up...any production work will get done by my factory staff. As a welder I make a bloody good company director, so forgive my welding. And i used surplus hardware from other jobs, so bolts, nuts, washers would be specific to this job, not what you see. I have now given it to my designer to work out how to make it more efficient to produce...ie cheaper. Still going, but initial thoughts are as follows. When you look at the pictures below, keep the following in mind. The prototype is one piece. The final model will be in three pieces. The base, and two legs. The two legs will bolt onto the tray. This will save space for shipping, and money. In the photos below, you can see the leg uprights are sq tube. These will be channel. The base will have an rhs "brace" which will bolt to the channel uprights, making it one piece prior to installation. The base will be similar to the pictures, but will be waterjet cut, and pinch welded. Saves labour during assembly. I have also used rivetted straps and webbing as my retaining strap. (except you might see that one is bolted on...thats so I can remove it to paint the prototype later). Its light, more than capable of restraining the batteries during normal use or an accident, and because im using the optimas, cant be damaged by acid. I can do a number of different other methods, like two hooks and a plate like stock, or a bit of rhs coming forward and pulling the batteries back into the tray. Feedback appreciated. These rated straps are cheap at $20, but it does all add up. The rear wall might yet get some final modification to allow for easier running of wires. The final model will also be treated in some way, depending on feedback. Can do zinc, gal, or gal, prime and paint....all with increasing cost. I also didnt meet my budget. If anyone is interested in the financials, pm me. Also like your feedback on the design.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/09/418.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/09/419.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/09/420.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/09/421.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/09/422.jpg
OK, Have finished fabbing up the prototype. Pictures below. First up...any production work will get done by my factory staff. As a welder I make a bloody good company director, so forgive my welding. And i used surplus hardware from other jobs, so bolts, nuts, washers would be specific to this job, not what you see. I have now given it to my designer to work out how to make it more efficient to produce...ie cheaper. Still going, but initial thoughts are as follows. When you look at the pictures below, keep the following in mind. The prototype is one piece. The final model will be in three pieces. The base, and two legs. The two legs will bolt onto the tray. This will save space for shipping, and money. In the photos below, you can see the leg uprights are sq tube. These will be channel. The base will have an rhs "brace" which will bolt to the channel uprights, making it one piece prior to installation. The base will be similar to the pictures, but will be waterjet cut, and pinch welded. Saves labour during assembly. I have also used rivetted straps and webbing as my retaining strap. (except you might see that one is bolted on...thats so I can remove it to paint the prototype later). Its light, more than capable of restraining the batteries during normal use or an accident, and because im using the optimas, cant be damaged by acid. I can do a number of different other methods, like two hooks and a plate like stock, or a bit of rhs coming forward and pulling the batteries back into the tray. Feedback appreciated. These rated straps are cheap at $20, but it does all add up. The rear wall might yet get some final modification to allow for easier running of wires. The final model will also be treated in some way, depending on feedback. Can do zinc, gal, or gal, prime and paint....all with increasing cost. I also didnt meet my budget. If anyone is interested in the financials, pm me. Also like your feedback on the design.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/09/418.jpg