Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

On the build vs. buy thing, even for top level teams, on kickoff day, we gave a serious look at the off the shelf options, and spent a couple solid hours weighing and debating it. The COTS items available this year are really good. Even though we have in-house CNC capabilities, we gave strong consideration to things like WCP gearboxes and bearing blocks, transmissions, and Vexpro ballshifters. But, in the end, by a very narrow margin, we decided to make all our own wheels, axles, gearboxes, frame, etc. There were just a few details on some of the COTS parts that we thought we could do better with custom parts, and we're saving a good bit of $$ by making things ourselves. But, we're paying the price of manufacturing time spent. It will be a couple weeks still before we have gearboxes and a frame. But, we think it will be worth it in the end.

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

We are going custom frame but not gearboxes. I'd love to hear some of the things that you feel you are saving by going custom. Weight and space are the two advantages I see of going custom over something like the WCP 3 CIM dog shifters. I'd love to see plates like the one on the WCP 3 CIM single speed be offered to make this point null.

Even so, the COTS stuff can be really useful. For example, 2/3 of our "custom" gearboxes this year are using vex versaplanetaries/cim-ilies as the initial stage(the third custom gearbox is designed to fit CIMs so we still might use these two options later). This has drastically simplified the design, and given us more versatile options if we believe that our ratios are unfit later.

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

Stock status on the VEX website only reflects information for products shipping from us directly in Greenville, TX.

Best,
Ricky

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

We went with a custom 2 speed 3 CIM gearbox this year because of size, weight, gear ratios, and availability. We need room on the inside of our robot to hold the ball, and we don't want a wide bot, so the gearboxes need to be as skinny as possible so we've made them backwards so that the shaft comes out the same side as the CIM motors are mounted to and so the motors are very close to the sides. Besides for the gearbox plates, everything else in the gearbox is off the shelf shafts/bearings/gears/shifting parts from vex and AM.

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

Paul and or VexPro staff,

Any thoughts / insight into when we might see the shifting and gear assemblies back in stock for the 3 CIM Ball shifter (specifically the 2.65 spread short shaft)? Our order showed up missing those parts, because of an oversight in ordering the gearboxes, which I will say was at least a tad confusing to me as a mentor, as it was me who made the mistake. We need to decide whether to return what we have and use something else, or if we can afford to wait to get the drive base running. I could imagine our team cannot tolerate more than 7-10 days taking into consideration the fact that I'm going to pay out of my own pocket to ship the parts next day air to Indiana. I'm just looking for a little more information so that the students can make a more informed decision.

Also, many of us understand the dilemma that Vex Pro has with parts ordering and maintaining stock. I agree suppliers deserve more information. I say this though, with the utmost respect, understanding your situation doesn't change ours. We still only have six weeks and need a robot driving in 2-3 max.

Best Regards.

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

I noticed that the website is updated. However, I was wondering if you guys can release any information about current acquisition lead times. We are primarily looking at the dog gears as we have our own custom plates and set ups from prior years.

While we can live off an old shifter design for the meanwhile, we desperately want to upgrade the drive before our week 1 regional. Can you provide information to let me know if gears are on their way or if I need to start sourcing my own gears

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

My team placed an order for our base chassis last Monday (1/13) and we just got it today. That order is missing the 1x2 stock, VersaBlock Kit, VersaChassis Hex Shaft, 1x1 stock, and our 3 CIM Ball Shifter's Short Shifter Shaft. Any idea on when those parts are going to be shipping?

We are also looking to place another order for our upper mechanism. We are going to be ordering a lot of the aluminium stock and gussets. How much of a back up of orders are there? If we order that today when will it be shipping?

Thanks

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

All of the items from the Monday order will ship this week in time for the weekend.

Right now if it is available on the web, then it will ship today (if the site says in stock), or some time this week (if the site says "shipping week of Jan 20"). So right now you can't even order 1 x 2 tubing because we have it out of stock. The web site has the most up to date information.

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

Paul,

We were able to order Dog Gears last week, but unforutantly we didn't order the right amount. We are specifically looking for 44T Dog Gear and 60T Dog Gear.

Will these be going back into stock at some point in the near future? Or should we be looking into alternatives?

Does anyone else have these? WCP or one of the distributors?

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

You should be looking elsewhere for individual dog gears. The WCP dog gears are being 100% reserved for gearboxes and their add-on kits. Also, none of the distributors have them either.

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

Any idea when we could see our 3 CIM Ball Locks, 24T pulleys, and 130T belts ship out from WCP? They don't appear to have shipped out (per our tracking numbers), and the statement that they'll ship as they come in from VP is kind of nebulous. When will we be able to get our components?

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

Hi Paul: So versa blocks ordered last week should ship this week? Thanks

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

If you are curious about your specific order, we're happy to give you a status update. You can do this one of three ways:

- Call VEX Customer Service at (903) 453-0802

- Send an email with your order number to sales@vexrobotics.com

- PM me your order number and I can look it up for you

Any one of those three options will yield a timely response. We are working continuously to ensure that you receive your parts as soon as we can ship them.

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

For any products ordered from companies other than VEX, please contact the respective companies. We are shipping out their orders this week as well.

Re: VEXPro Out of Stock
 

For those teams hankering for the 2x1 or 1x1 VexPro aluminum, is there a technical reason why 2x1x.125 or 1x1x.0625 tubing from a supplier like online metals can't be subbed in? We have a leftover piece from last year and the 2x1 was 1.995 " tall. Is that an acceptable fit for when the Versablocks do ship? I realize it means you have to drill your own holes, but a set of transfer punches is cheap and student labor is free.