Re: pic: 716 Dual Motor/Dual Speed
 

There are several methods of gearing motors together that successfully minimize the potential problems you might have if one motor were to overpower another.

There is tomes of information about this is accomplished in threads and whitepapers all over this site. You could search and read for days and days, I'm sure.

Re: pic: 716 Dual Motor/Dual Speed
 

I apologize to everyone. I do not know where I was the beginning of Feb and April. Possibly stuck in a robot somewhere :p

Thank you sanddrag and Cory for stepping in for me. From all our conversations this year I know you guys can explain these boxes as well as me!

This gearbox is an evolution of the single speed from last year and the dual speed, see white paper titled “Dual Speed Shifter”, that we ran last Fall in the off-season. That gearbox was 4:1 and was insanely fast especially coming down last year’s ramp.

This gearbox is 3:1 with a high speed output of 500 rpm. One box with motors weighs 7-1/2 lbs as shown. It can be built as a mirror by assembling the same pieces differently. This is our arrangement with one air-cylinder attached to both shift yoke shafts. We run line pressure (60 psi) and it shifts very quick, almost simultaneous even in autonomous.

The dogs and gears have .003”-.008” total clearance. If the dry fit indicates tightness, a light filing to the tight side of the dog is done. All edges of the dog and gear pockets are sanded with crocus cloth and stoned. Nothing is hardened. Very little backlash is used to lessen impact loads. The more they run the smoother they get.

I plan on publishing complete plans for this gearbox this summer. This includes the drill motor sub-assembly.

BTW, sanddrag, I would very much like to see your version when you get it up and running. If I could only convince the team to go to the summer California Games!

Re: pic: 716 Dual Motor/Dual Speed
 

Don't trust my word...but wouldn't that be pointless building a multi motor gearbox, and not running them both at the same time. I would assume that they are both powered at the same time.

Re: pic: 716 Dual Motor/Dual Speed
 

Man, I just spent 30 minutes making this really long post about the history of my team's drivetrains and my plans for the 6 motor two speed transmission for next year and right before I clicked the submit button my screen went dark. I accidentally stepped on the switch on the power strip under my desk. :mad: You have no idea how angry and disappointed I am. It was a really long post.

Anyway, lets just say that if anyone wants a punched out monitor, snapped keyboard, or smashed powerstrip, send me a PM or something. j/k