View Full Version : Best Looking Gearbox
Jonathan Cheng
10-09-2015, 15:46
What are the best gearbox designs,aesthetics, etc. you've seen over the years?
Ginger Power
10-09-2015, 15:52
I like the gearboxes that can move my mechanical systems reliably.
Rachel Lim
10-09-2015, 15:57
Definitely not something to use, but I always liked this (https://www.reddit.com/r/FRC/comments/2co5ts/where_is_your_god_now/) one:
http://i.imgur.com/iJWrrCQm.jpg
carpedav000
10-09-2015, 16:21
Without hesitation:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/39544
Without hesitation:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/39544
I'll see you, and raise you:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/27018
Without hesitation:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/39544
Seconded. 254 and 968 are nice, but the extra CIM and flipped-motor design, plus the snazzy covers are just too much.
thatprogrammer
10-09-2015, 21:00
Seconded. 254 and 968 are nice, but the extra CIM and flipped-motor design, plus the snazzy covers are just too much.
Plus the belts look so fine...
jman4747
10-09-2015, 22:29
Oh but I hope you all didn't forget: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89768
The king.
Mitchell1714
10-09-2015, 23:08
Oh but I hope you all didn't forget: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89768
The king.
This is actually a complete lack of gearbox...
But its funny to read through again.
I'm going to throw in 1717's swerve modules to the mix.
http://wiki.team1640.com/index.php?title=DEWBOT_VIII_Drive-train_Team_Page#FRC_Team_1717.27s_awesome_pivots
waialua359
11-09-2015, 03:25
Are we asking about California's best looking gearboxes, or is this just a coincidence?😊
I kinda like this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/37157) one. We never built it though...
Are we asking about California's best looking gearboxes, or is this just a coincidence?��
When I went to Chezy Champs 2014. I was completely blown away by how nearly every single robot there was colored. It seems that California, on average, places a much higher value on aesthetics than other regions.
Ive often wondered how related this is to the type of engineering firms in the area. I've heard several California teams justify the time put into the aesthetics of their robot with sponsors wanting to see a complete, finished product. Back In Michigan, I rarely hear the same justification; sponsors there are just looking for different things.
Thad House
11-09-2015, 12:44
When I went to Chezy Champs 2014. I was completely blown away by how nearly every single robot there was colored. It seems that California, on average, places a much higher value on aesthetics than other regions.
Ive often wondered how related this is to the type of engineering firms in the area. I've heard several California teams justify the time put into the aesthetics of their robot with sponsors wanting to see a complete, finished product. Back In Michigan, I rarely hear the same justification; sponsors there are just looking for different things.
It definitely is interesting how you go to different areas of the country and get completely different robots. Get me a set of robots from Texas, California, Michigan, PNW and NE, and every one will have much different design values.
As for this actual thread, I always liked the look of the 254 flat gearboxes from 2013 and 2014. I keep suggesting to VexPro they should release those, because the form factor for those is really convenient.
MichaelBick
11-09-2015, 12:59
As for this actual thread, I always liked the look of the 254 flat gearboxes from 2013 and 2014. I keep suggesting to VexPro they should release those, because the form factor for those is really convenient.
254 has broken countless motors with those gearboxes.
254 has broken countless motors with those gearboxes.
I think he was saying that the bending moment induced by the torsion on the pinion gear is less when the gear is closer to the mounting plate. This would decrease the bending moment and the likelihood of bending the CIM shaft. I recall seeing one bent shaft on our 2013 robot (caused by some significant shock loads in the PTO/hanging mechanism). We used the same mounting scheme in 2014 and saw no bent shafts.
^^
Richard Wallace
11-09-2015, 14:27
I vote for 148's Tumbleweed 2008 gearbox. Just peering down into that thing, and seeing all that raw power driving that little chassis -- well, let's just say I like torque. The more the better.
The most amazing thing to me was that they were a winning #1 AC in Week 1, and later a second pick winner on Einstein. A truly great drive train can be the foundation of a championship season, even when game play evolves beyond the robot's initial design capability.
I vote for 148's Tumbleweed 2008 gearbox. +1! Much before my time in FRC, but it is certainly the most impressive competition gearbox I've seen, installed on the most iconic robot I've seen.
That said, I've been wondering lately if an utterly oddball skid-steer (two pneumatic or specially designed solid wheels on the right side with between 30 and 45 degrees negative camber and driven by 3 or 4 CIMs, and one vertical wheel on the left side driven by 2 CIMs, with a few percent difference in effective gear ratios on the sides) couldn't have run laps just as fast, or maybe even faster. Something like this as viewed from behind:
_______
Left wheel, 2 CIMs ----> | \ <----Right wheels, 4 CIMs
Mike Marandola
19-10-2015, 14:19
My vote is for 696's 2015 swerve boxes. They are so clean.
http://2015blog.team696.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMG_2485.jpg
http://2015blog.team696.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_0390.jpg
http://2015blog.team696.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMG_2640.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AzuUhI8.jpg
Made this rendering a while back when I was discussing with someone how many CIMs to put on a gearbox. You can barely see the plate that holds it all together.
Shameless self-plug (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1402045&postcount=51).
Coincidentally, it would have been 100% legal for the 2015 season if someone were willing to make it.
JackFisher
20-10-2015, 03:00
I beleive the best looking gearboxes are the ones with the least amount of parts. Didn't have photo on hand to post.
Shameless self-plug (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1402045&postcount=51).
Coincidentally, it would have been 100% legal for the 2015 season if someone were willing to make it.
I did make this model before the 2015 season, so unlimited CIMs seemed like a dream. I think weight would have been the only issue along with exceeding the maximum budget on the BOM.
Scott Kozutsky
20-10-2015, 09:54
_______
Left wheel, 2 CIMs ----> | \ <----Right wheels, 4 CIMs
Of course you could go faster with 50% more cims than back in the day (tumbleweed was restricted to 4). My friends team had a ~40lb robot (if his tales are to be believed) with 4 cims driving a solid rear axle using an omni wheel in front to steer. It didn't compete because of politics but apparently it was much faster than tumbleweed.
+1 for 192 and their functional art piece of a gearbox.
MichaelBick
20-10-2015, 11:13
Of course you could go faster with 50% more cims than back in the day (tumbleweed was restricted to 4). My friends team had a ~40lb robot (if his tales are to be believed) with 4 cims driving a solid rear axle using an omni wheel in front to steer. It didn't compete because of politics but apparently it was much faster than tumbleweed.
Tumbleweed's drivetrain was impressive not only for its speed but also it's ability to play defense, both aspects which they used as an integral member of thei rchampionship winning alliance.
Jared Russell
20-10-2015, 11:35
It definitely is interesting how you go to different areas of the country and get completely different robots. Get me a set of robots from Texas, California, Michigan, PNW and NE, and every one will have much different design values.
As for this actual thread, I always liked the look of the 254 flat gearboxes from 2013 and 2014. I keep suggesting to VexPro they should release those, because the form factor for those is really convenient.
Local teams are inspired by (or in some cases flat out copy) aspects of design and methodology from highly successful teams in their area. There is also a different game culture in different areas of the country, especially with respect to defense.
These trends are especially prevalent in drivetrain and chassis design, since these change less from year to year. You used to see it even more before AndyMark and VexPro and others were offering so many high-quality COTS parts (and fewer teams were going to the World Championship and there was less "globalization" of FRC).
I think this is one of the neatest parts of FRC, and I enjoy walking around Championships observing local trends and "natural selection" at work.
It definitely is interesting how you go to different areas of the country and get completely different robots. Get me a set of robots from Texas, California, Michigan, PNW and NE, and every one will have much different design values.
...snip....
Can you quantify Michigan design values? I am curious if someone can help me with that as I may be too close tot he subject to see.
I do know that there are a few styles of construction here in Michigan, but i d not believe any of them to be exclusive too or "local trend"....
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