Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

We are planning to use a winch and pulley system to pull a component up our robot. We have a pulley and some cable and we're trying to figure out how to make a small winch. We're not sure what to use as a "Spool" for the winch. We've thought of using a pneumatic wheel without the tire or the plastic mounting things used for the robot wheels. Are there any other good ideas of things to use as a spool for this purpose? Any ideas/pictures would be appreciated. :D :D :D

Re: Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

How about an actual spool?

You can use a left over 3d filament spool, old fishing rod parts, wire spool, auto winch parts from the junk yard, plumbing parts. I have even seen lathed down wooden 4x4..

So many spools and spool simulants :D

Try the hardware store, they might have something they can donate

Now when you get a spool the trick is .... interfacing it with your motor/transmission.

Good luck this season.

Aloha!

Re: Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

This is the spool we used last year to pull down our catapult. It mounts on a 1/2" hex shaft. We printed it solid on our Makerbot 2x, and it worked perfectly the entire season!. Just print the two sides, stick them together, put the guide around the whole thing, and slide the shaft in. Use a bolt (I think it was a 10-32) through the provided hole to go through a looped end of a 1" wide nylon strap.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:254530

Obviously, it can probably be modified/adjusted based on your desired use!. We used a vex pro ball shifter with the optional third stage reduction and a single CIM motor to power it, mounting this right on our output shaft.

Re: Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

We used a wench last year - it was formed by putting two aluminum VersaHubs face-to-face. We drove it using a VersaPlanetary gearbox driven by a BAG motor. It worked very well for us.



Cheers,
- Dean

Re: Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

We did pretty much the same thing, excecpt we used the old AM hubs and we added a piece of polycarb to extend the diameter of the winch. We drove ours using a ballshifter with a beefed up cylinder.

Re: Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

Thirding the use of two hex hubs with polycarb discs (attached to a commercial gearbox). We used Andymark hubs last year because they have a solid flange. We drilled the aluminum flange of both so that we could pass a #10 x ~2" bolt across the gap, through both flanges. We passed the bolt through the sewn loop of some 1" tie-down straps, and then the strap rolled up on top of the bolt (and hubs). We also built a guide for the strap, but it probably isn't necessary. Easy build - did it in one meeting.

Re: Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

One thing to keep in mind is how the radius of the spool affects your other design choices. If you can fit a larger spool on your bot, you can avoid winding difficulties; however, your motor+gearbox and brake will have to handle more torque.

Re: Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

We just printed this part and we're putting it all together now and it seems like it will work like a charm! Thanks for the help!

Re: Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot
 

In case you don't have a 3d printer... you can make a spool with pvc pipe and end caps, you can match drill the end caps with a hub adapter, and mount it all together.. I kind of miss the days of literally looking for things and making them work....