Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

I know... Belts are better, but we don't seem to get along with them.
We're always a quarter of an inch off in our builds (oh, that cursed quarter of an inch), and with belts being unresizable and barely stretchable, that's a big problem for us.
We also have to make changes often, and having to take the entire set of wheels down every time you want to move the belt is a hugh waste of time (not to talk about the mess and nerves the spacers create).

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

I've popped plenty of chain, but never a belt. Teams afraid of using belts should... outgrow their fear!

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

Hey, teams using belts are eligible for the Gates Corporation scholarship...

2,000 towards college sounds like a good enough reason to use belts to me.

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

You express some concerns that a lot of teams encouter when they think of belts. They do have their advantages but your design needs to be solid and your mechanical team has little to no room for error. The smallest amount off creates slack leading to ratcheting. :eek:

However, I am optomistic that Andymark will produce a solid, easy to use system that is easier than previous KOP chassis to assemble and maintain! :)

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

Team 4183 is probably going with the voucher. We have mentors with drivetrain design experience and access to laser-cut aluminium. Using those resources and a $450 voucher, we could probably design something significantly better than the KOP drivetrain.

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

Does that require using the KoP belts and/or using belts in the drivetrain, or any belts on your robot?

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

I'm not sure, but I think that any belts can be used.

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

I thought only veteran teams could get the voucher?

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

I believe 4450 is the starting rookie number for this year.

-RC

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

I thought a "veteran team" was defined as an team on it's 3rd year?

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

The unofficial sequence:
Rookie (1st year)
Sophomore (2nd year)
Veteran (3rd year or more)

The official sequence, however, lumps sophomores in with the veterans:
Rookie (1st year)
Veteran (Everybody not classed as a rookie)

4183, by the official sequence, is a veteran, and therefore eligible for the voucher.

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

Ah, thanks that makes more sense.

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

Use of adjustable (sliding) bearing blocks allows you to easily move/adjust belts...we'be been using belts since 2007 without any problems and love the results.:D Gates has been an awesome, supportive resource and is committed to helping other teams gain the benefits we have seen over the past 6 years.

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

As far as I'm aware, there are no sliding bearing blocks in c-channels :P
We'd have to wait for the KoP to arrive befor making the final decision.

BTW, I might have not mentioned this, we did have some good experiences with belts (in which cases we did use the sliding bearing blocks), it's the fact you don't have maneuvering room that troubles us.

Re: KOP Drivetrain vs Voucher
 

Not sure what you mean by maneuvering room. Belts/sprockets don't have to take up much room...some teams even put them in their box tubing frame. Do you mean maneuvering room to access the belts?