Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

Some clarification if possible:

The difference between gears with versakey option and those without - does this refer to just the female versakey pattern in each gear? Do the non-versakey gears still come with the bolt pattern?

Also, I see two availability options: "In stock" and "Ships before kickoff". How long would it take each of these to ship if I ordered today?

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

Do we have an ETA on documentation for the 3-CIM gearbox? I'm trying to figue our how to mount one to a piece of channel and as far as I can tell the logical thing (using the hexagonal home pattern) won't work with any standard screw cap size. Anyone know how this is supposed to work?

Note: I know I'm going to feel stupid after somebody points out that some specific holes are for mounting it in a way that I should have already thought of.

EDIT: Also, though that tire model works, it looks like it's more of a stand-in than an actual model for the 1/2" segments of Traction Tire that appear on the website. Will the actual traction tire models be released?

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

Will WCP continue to sell colsons in the future? Will Vex be stocking colson wheels at their distribution centers next season?

Apart from the new 3.25" versawheel, are there any plans to make wheels cheaper/easier to interface with 1/2 hex? right now the solution seems to be either two 1/2" hex versahub for @18/wheel, or a 1/2" versahub and a bearing for $14/wheel. 3.25" leaves you with little ground clearance, right now the best options seems to be 4" colsons, with 4" stealth wheels being the cheaper option.

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

Everything I have seen in the Gates literature showes the GT2 profile ahead of HTD. Check out page 10 of the Gates Light Power and Precision manual. This shows the ratcheting torque of 5mm GT2 and HTD being evenly matched across a range of tensions tested at 2300 RPM (roughly 3X FRC drive train speeds), with GT2 being slightly better than HTD (<5% and decreases as tension increases).

The main advantage as I see it of GT2 over HTD is reduced backlash. In a light load test condition (as defined by Gates), the backlash on 3mm GT2 is 1/3 that of 3mm HTD (.012" vs .030"). This is because the GT2 profile is designed to have less clearance than the HTD profile.

Given the small performance difference as reported by Gates at the 5mm size, the FRC application, and the vendor feedback that Vex Pro got, HTD seems a reasonable choice. I look forward to having more timing belt and pulley sources. We will have to look into it more, but it looks like this offering may enable us to make our wheel modules using all Vex Pro products.

-Travis

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

BBray,

The intent of the product was to allow for a neutral IF teams wanted it.

http://puu.sh/5L9Hb/b016fcbd71.jpg

The cylinder mount allows to teams to use the current SMC pancake cylinder along with the Bimba/Fabco 2 position OR 3 position cylinder.

http://puu.sh/5L9I5/005faa9138.jpg

-RC

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

If you order the one that says, "in stock" then it will ship same day if ordered before 3pm Central time. The "Ships before Kickoff" items are in the plating process right now and they will ship before January 4th.

Yes, the gears without the Versakey pattern still have the FRC standard mounting hole pattern. We made non-Versakey gears to save teams that don't need the Versakeys some money.

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

That's the literature I found as well. Seems like if backlash isn't a concern, HTD should be fairly interchangeable, but I wouldn't say it is ever better performing than HTD.

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

Here's something neat that I'd love to see from VEX: JVN's mechanical calculator as some sort of web app.

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

And for the sake of convenience: A belt C-C calculator to help select which VEXPro stocked belts and pulleys to buy, right on the VEXPro website. Not hard to find elsewhere, but it'd be great for people who are new to designing for belts.

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

Seconded. This would be really, really helpful.

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

Especially considering that the SDP/SI calculator doesn't actually have some of the belts that VexPro does.

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

Center distance calc now available here and will be on VEXpro's site soon.

Works for any size pulley, and gives out the two nearest VEXpro belt sizes, to the desired center distance. The pulley size also turns bold when you are using a VEXpro pulley. Any box that is white can be edited by the user, boxes that are gray are info from the calculator.

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

#TeamAlec

Thanks WCP! :)

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

For all those who want to take a quick look at some of the new components without opeing the CAD, here are a few screenshots:

2 motor VersaPlanetary plates:


CIMile Cuttaway 1:


CIMile Cuttaway 2 (with mega cool output shaft/gear!):


WCD 3 CIM Ball Shifter:


WCD 3 CIM Ball Shifter Cutaway:

Re: Back for more..VEXpro 2014 Product Unveiling
 

I've been playing around with VersaPlanetary CAD models today, and it has been a learning experience. They're really neat little boxes.

What holds a ring gear add-on stage to the new dual input gearbox? The STEP model shows a couple of 10-32 screws sticking out, but there is no threaded 10-32 hole to go into on the ring gear stage. The 10-32 screw would seem to go into the the cutout corners of the ring gear block. Does the ring gear's shoulder press fit into the plastic housing of the dual input?

This picture shows the 10-32 screws sticking out and not connecting to the ring gear. What have I missed?



I tried rotating the ring gear 90 degrees to use the other holes with 8-32 screws, but it looks like the distance between those 8-32 holes is less than 2", presumably to force people to assemble VersaPlanetary boxes correctly. This picture off the Vex Pro website shows the ring gear in the same orientation as I am trying to assemble it.