[FTC]: Legal Gearboxes for FTC?

[Kartoffee]

Hi! I just had a question about the rules regarding gearboxes. I have looked through the game manual and can't find anything that says what gearboxes are or aren't allowed. It is very clear for motors, but not for gearboxes.

My question: Can an FTC team use Versa Planetary gearboxes, such as the ones used for FRC? If so, how could it be attached?

[Billfred]

Hi! I just had a question about the rules regarding gearboxes. I have looked through the game manual and can't find anything that says what gearboxes are or aren't allowed. It is very clear for motors, but not for gearboxes.

My question: Can an FTC team use Versa Planetary gearboxes, such as the ones used for FRC? If so, how could it be attached?

RM02, the orange box specifically. (https://firstinspiresst01.blob.core.windows.net/ftc/game-manual-part-1.pdf)

As to VersaPlanetary gearboxes, I've seen them used but you'd want to consult their documentation.

[pilleya]

My question: Can an FTC team use Versa Planetary gearboxes, such as the ones used for FRC? If so, how could it be attached?

As long as the motor is legal, you can utilise any COTS Planetary Gearbox. In the case of the P60( available from Banebots or Andymark and the VersaPlanetary( available from VEXpro) you will need to use a Andymark Neverest motor as the input. You may already have plenty of them attached to your 20,40,60 reduction gearboxes or you can get one of these:
http://www.andymark.com/Motor-p/am-3104.htm

First up you will need to disassemble the gearbox, or remove the front plate from the bare motor using the two screws. After this you will need to remove the helical pinion from the motor. This video shows the removal of the pinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76BmOQRCacg

Then you will need to find the 550 class motor mounting plate which comes in the VersaPlanetary base kit, the Neverest motor is just a super low power 550 class motor, so you will be able to use the motor mount plate and the input collet for a 550 motor. The input shaft is shorter than a normal 550 motors so you need to take care to get as much of the shaft as you can in the collet. But it's not an issue, due to the low torque of the motor. After this you can basically just assemble the VersaPlanetary as you normally would.

A few resources to help with assembly:

Motor mounting guide:https://content.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/pdf/VEXpro-VersaPlanetary-Motor-Mounting-Guide-20151209.PDF

User/Assembly Guide: https://content.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/pdf/VersaPlanetary-User-Guide-20151221.pdf

If you need a bit more guidance send me a Private Message or just reply.

[Isonine]

In our experience the versaplanetary documentation is pretty confusing. We used it to get us started, but then we figured it out after that.

To prep the motors for assembly on the gearbox, make sure to apply a lot of pressure when unscrewing the stock gearbox housing from the neverest. We have a few failed attempts where we stripped the screws. Also to get the pinion gear off of the neverest, the easiest way we found to do it was to just clamp down on it in a vice and pull it off with pliers.

[MattRain]

My question: Can an FTC team use Versa Planetary gearboxes, such as the ones used for FRC? If so, how could it be attached?

Yes, you can use Versa Planetary gearboxes. We are using some on our robot as well. Be sure to use the 550 motor mount.

We have been very happy with ours.