> **Source:** Core Electronics is an Australian maker-electronics retailer and manufacturer based in Newcastle, NSW, run by a team of makers and educators. We design and manufacture our own product lines (PiicoDev, CE originals) and are official retailers for iconic maker and industrial brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and DFRobot. Orders ship Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Pricing, stock and dispatch on this page are generated from the store's live catalog. Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt # Pololu Balboa Chassis with Stability Conversion Kit (No Motors, Wheels, or Electronics) **Type:** Product page · **SKU:** POLOLU-3573 · **Brand:** [Pololu](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/pololu-australia) **Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-balboa-chassis-with-stability-conversion-kit-no-motors-wheels-or-electronics.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-balboa-chassis-with-stability-conversion-kit-no-motors-wheels-or-electronics.html.md)) This kit gives you the structural pieces you need to build your own Balboa chassis with stability conversion. The chassis includes an integrated battery holder that can be configured for 4 or 6 AA cells. Two configurable gearboxes further increase the gear ratio from the required micro metal gearmotors while supporting the weight of the robot with ball bearings rather than the gearmotor shafts themselves. The chassis works with a variety of wheel sizes and micro metal gearmotors, so wheels and motors are not included; choose your own wheels and motors to personalize your robot. ## Pricing - **Price:** $69.60 (inc GST) — $63.27 AUD, exc GST - **Quantity discounts:** 6+ $60.75 (exc GST) · 12+ $58.85 (exc GST) ## Availability & dispatch - Available with a lead time — expect dispatch between Aug 31 and Sep 02. ## How to buy - **Build a cart:** compose `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link?items=POLOLU-3573:1` (comma-separated SKU:qty pairs) and share the link. Opening it shows a confirmation page with live pricing and stock before anything is added to the cart. - **Verify the cart first:** fetch `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link/POLOLU-3573:1.md` for live line prices (inc & exc GST, quantity discounts applied), stock and dispatch estimates, and totals. Append `/to/{AU-postcode}` (or `/to/{country-code}:{postcode}`) before `.md` for delivery options and prices to that destination. Unknown, retired, or out-of-stock SKUs are flagged. (Query form `cart/link.md?items=...` also works but some robots parsers refuse query strings here.) - **Checkout** is completed on-site and includes a captcha at the payment step. Share the cart link; checkout takes it from there. - **Search the catalogue:** `https://core-electronics.com.au/search/{query}.md` (URL-encode the query; pages 2-3 at `search/{query}/{page}.md`; `search.md?q=` also works) - **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt ## Description This chassis kit consists of the structural pieces from the [Balboa 32U4 Robot Kit](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-balboa-32u4-balancing-robot-kit-no-motors-or-wheels.html) plus the [Stability Conversion add-on](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-stability-conversion-kit-for-balboa.html), giving you almost everything you need to build a differential-drive Balboa robot based on your own electronics. Motors and wheels are deliberately not included with the kit so that you can pick your own to customize the look and performance of your robot (see the *Selecting motors and wheels* section below for more information). The kit includes the following parts: | [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8765_53403ec7dfb.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8765_38502c80170.jpg) | |---| - Balboa core chassis - battery box and cover - two motor retention clips/gearbox housings - two gearbox covers - six 683 ball bearings - two 3 mm D-shafts - ten plastic pinion gears (small – two each with 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25 teeth) - ten plastic output gears (large – two each with 41, 43, 45, 47, and 49 teeth) - battery terminals - [Stability Conversion Kit](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-stability-conversion-kit-for-balboa.html) - chassis extension piece/ball caster holder - three rollers - 1"-diameter plastic ball - ball caster retention clip The majority of the chassis is made from black ABS plastic, and these pieces securely snap together for quick assembly. The main chassis piece contains an integrated battery holder that can be configured for four or six [AA batteries](https://core-electronics.com.au/rechargeable-nimh-aa-battery-1-2-v-2200-mah-1-cell.html) (batteries are not included), and it also has slots for two micro metal gearmotors, which are held in place by two configurable plastic gearboxes. These gearboxes further increase the gear ratio of the required gearmotors while the weight of the chassis with ball bearings rather than the gearmotor shafts themselves. The gearboxes also position the wheel shafts along the central plane of the battery holder, which is helpful for balancing applications. | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8843_185895cb7dd.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8843_559060d9fa4.jpg) \| \|---\| \| Top view of the Balboa Chassis with Stability Conversion Kit and 80×10mm Pololu Wheels. \| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8841_15937603d14.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8841_39262de035e.jpg) \| \|---\|---\| \| Balboa Chassis with Stability Conversion Kit and 80×10mm Pololu Wheels. \| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8844_16538afa86e.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8844_52958fbc772.jpg) \| \|---\|---\| \| Bottom view of the Balboa Chassis with Stability Conversion Kit and 80×10mm Pololu Wheels. \| | |---| The stability conversion piece holds a large ball caster and clips onto the front of the chassis to provide a smooth third point of contact for traditional differential-drive applications. If you are using this chassis to make a balancing robot, you can leave this piece off, or you can add it without the ball caster to make the chassis taller and to provide additional mounting points. For balancing applications, please consider also getting the [bumper cage kit for Balboa](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-bumper-cage-kit-for-balboa.html) to make it easier for your robot to pop itself up from horizontal and to help protect your electronics from falls. **Selecting motors and wheels** The Balboa chassis will work with any of Pololu's [micro metal gearmotors](https://core-electronics.com.au/components/motors/metal-gearmotors/micro.html). These gearmotors are available in a variety of different gear ratios and power levels, and Pololu do not include any with the kit so you can choose the ones that will work best for your particular application. For a general purpose robot, Pololu recommend the [**30:1 HPCB**](https://core-electronics.com.au/30-1-micro-metal-gearmotor-hpcb-6v-with-extended-motor-shaft.html), [**50:1 HPCB**](https://core-electronics.com.au/50-1-micro-metal-gearmotor-hpcb-6v-with-extended-motor-shaft.html), or [**75:1 HPCB**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-75-1-micro-metal-gearmotor-hpcb-6v-with-extended-motor-shaft.html) micro metal gearmotors with extended back shafts that can be used with [encoders](https://core-electronics.com.au/magnetic-encoder-pair-kit-with-side-entry-connector-for-micro-metal-gearmotors-12-cpr-2-7-18v.html). Even if you do not plan on using encoders on your first robot, it is nice to have the option later. Please note that the gearmotors you pick will be further reduced by the gearboxes on the chassis, which offer five reduction options during assembly ranging from 1.64:1 to 2.88:1 (see this gear ratio chart (447k pdf) for more information). | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J6830_10095ece633.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J6830_148289478ea.jpg) \| \|---\| \| Micro metal gearmotor HPCB with extended motor shaft. \| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8781_13053e35b1a.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8781_38477c96993.jpg) \| \|---\|---\| \| Balboa Chassis with Stability Conversion Kit and 60×8mm Pololu Wheels. \| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J2763_31230013c7a.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J2763_1996909c6d1.jpg) \| \|---\|---\| \| Pololu Wheels with 90, 80, 70, and 60 mm diameters in three colors: blue, red, and yellow. \| | |---| Pololu also do not include wheels with the kit since there are many colors and sizes to choose from. If you are using it as a traditional chassis oriented on its side and supported by two wheels and the included ball caster, any wheel size from [60×8mm](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-wheel-60x8mm-pair-black.html) up through [90×10mm](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-wheel-90x10mm-pair-black.html) can work. Note that the chassis will be approximately level with the 60×8mm wheels, and with larger wheels, the front will slope down. For balancing applications, Pololu recommend [80×10mm Pololu wheels](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-wheel-80x10mm-pair-black.html). See Pololu's [full selection of Pololu wheels](https://core-electronics.com.au/hardware/wheels.html) for more options. This diagram shows the possible chassis angles with four different wheel sizes ranging from 60 mm through 90 mm: | [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8845_8803668b7cb.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8845_15247955430.png) | |---| | Variety of chassis angles available when using different wheels on the Balboa Chassis with Stability Conversion. | | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8842_1788545097d.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8842_3256602a1a2.jpg) \| \|---\| \| Balboa Chassis with Stability Conversion Kit and 80×10mm Pololu Wheels. \| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8788_91273cb3c4.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J8788_19368b47a5f.jpg) \| \|---\|---\| \| Balboa Chassis with Stability Conversion Kit and 60×8mm Pololu Wheels. \| | |---| **Assembling the Balboa Chassis** The assembly instructions of the Balboa 32U4 Robot user’s guide also apply to the Balboa Chassis Kit. Just skip the steps pertaining to the Balboa 32U4 control board and instead install your own electronics! And if you later decide you want to turn your chassis into a Balboa 32U4 robot, the [Balboa 32U4 control board](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-balboa-32u4-control-board.html) is available separately. **People often buy this product together with:** | [![50:1 Micro Metal Gearmotor HPCB 6V with Extended Motor Shaft](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J6830_3507e73fe1.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/50-1-micro-metal-gearmotor-hpcb-6v-with-extended-motor-shaft.html) | [50:1 Micro Metal Gearmotor HPCB 6V with Extended Motor Shaft](https://core-electronics.com.au/50-1-micro-metal-gearmotor-hpcb-6v-with-extended-motor-shaft.html) | |---|---| | [![Pololu Wheel 80×10mm Pair - Black](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J10430_32810c27c8.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-wheel-80x10mm-pair-black.html) | [Pololu Wheel 80×10mm Pair - Black](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-wheel-80x10mm-pair-black.html) | |---|---| | [![Bumper Cage Kit for Balboa](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J7788_326228a5a1.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-bumper-cage-kit-for-balboa.html) | [Bumper Cage Kit for Balboa](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-bumper-cage-kit-for-balboa.html) | |---|---| **Dimensions** | Size: | 185 × 112 × 80 mm[1](https://core-electronics.com.au/#note1) | |---|---| | Weight: | 130 g[2](https://core-electronics.com.au/#note2) | **Notes:** 1Of assembled chassis with stability conversion kit and 80×10 mm wheels.2Of assembled chassis with stability conversion kit and motors. This weight does not include wheels, batteries, or any electronics. **Documentation and other information** - ![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J7579_5496e46f44.jpg)**Pololu Balboa 32U4 Balancing Robot User’s Guide (Printable PDF)** User’s manual for the Pololu Balboa 32U4 balancing robot. **File downloads** - **Gear ratio chart for the Balboa Chassis (447k pdf)** This printable 1:1 scale chart helps you identify the gears included in the Balboa 32U4 Robot Kit and Balboa Chassis Kit and details the available gear ratios. - **Dimension diagram for the Balboa 32U4 Balancing Robot Kit (734k pdf)** - **Dimension diagram of Stability Conversion Kit for Balboa (392k pdf)** - **3D model of the assembled Balboa Balancing Robot (24MB step)** Note: this model includes [micro metal gearmotors](https://core-electronics.com.au/category/141/micro-metal-gearmotors-with-extended-motor-shafts) and [80mm wheels](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-wheel-80x10mm-pair-black.html) that are sold separately from the Balboa 32U4 Balancing Robot Kit. This model uses a simplified model of the Balboa 32U4 Control Board to reduce the file size. - **3D model of the Stability Conversion Kit for Balboa (4MB step)** ## Images - [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/0/j/0j8765.1200.jpg)