AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Looking at AndyMark.biz today (LOVE the new organization by the way). And I saw there was a "New Parts" section. Under Gearboxes and Transmissions, it lists underneath the Supershifter, something called a "Stackerbox". To be released January 1st.

Anyone know what this is? I did a quick CD search but found nothing.

Looks we'll be getting some new Hubs and Sprocket sizes as well. I can't wait!

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Could this be the possible answer to all of our prayers that AM is the new kit gearbox? :ahh:

because of the release date on info it could be possible...

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

I don't think it will be the kitbox. Otherwise the targeted release would be the 5th, not the first. But this is VERY intriguing. Maybe it won't even be a box targeted towards drivetrains. We could use a good 6:1 arm gearbox to interface with globe motors...

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Stackerbox? Although I might get fired for saying this, AndyMark will be selling robots from 2003 that were used in "Stack Attack"

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Does that mean that you'll first be buying robots that were used in 2003? I think we've got a few lying around. :)

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

I wonder if it is a single-speed gearbox that stacks like the 2005/6 KOP transmission...

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

The name "Stackerbox" indicates to me that this will involve customizable gear ratios (I don't mean shifting).

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Something like the Tamiya Planetary Gearbox or the MicroMark Planetary but built more ruggedly for the Fisher Price type can motors would be really handy I would think.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

That would pretty much be the coolest thing ever.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

I don't think you will find AM introducing any more planetary boxes, more than likely it's something to combine their single speed trans for manipulators.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

You guys are good.

A version of this idea was proposed to me from mentor Mike Koch from team 1720 in Muncie, in mid-November. I took a week or two to make a nice design, then got parts quoted and sourced. We are finishing up the build on a production run of these gearboxes. Mike does not know this, but his team will get a couple of these for free.

(by the way... this is one of the things I LOOOOOOVE about being a small business: you can act quickly on an idea)

It's not a gearbox that will be in the 08 Kit of Parts. Even so, it's a neat-o gearbox. I'll explain:

Gearbox type: spur gear reduction, one stage
Gearbox Size: 5" x 3" x 1" wide
Reduction: 3.57:1 (14 tooth gear driving a 50 tooth gear)
Shafts (input & output, identical): 3/8" dia w/ 3/32 keyway, sticking out 1" from side of gearbox
Gears: 20 dp, 14.5 pa steel gears w/ ~ 3/8" face width

No motor mounts.

To use this gearbox, you would connect something (sprocket, hub, pulley) to the input shaft (3/8" dia) and drive it. You would then get a 3.57:1 reduction out the output shaft.

The cool thing is... and here's where it gets its name... you can stack 2-3-4-5 of these things back to back and keep multiplying a 3.57:1 ratio to your output shaft. These are a large, spur gear version of what Chuck (deepwater) posted above.

And... another thing (and this will take a bit longer), we can vary the reduction inside the gearbox by replacing the two gears with any two of the same dp and pa, as long as the teeth add up to 64. We're working on other ratios, but for now the only one that will be available by the end of the year is the 50:14 ratio.

Yes, Andy B and Scott (indysam).... put two of these on top of each other, and you have a nice reduction for an arm.

I'll post some CAD pics on the site tomorrow. I suppose that we better assign a price to this thing too. Where's that dartboard? :)

There are many new little parts coming out within the next few weeks. Good find, Burchardt.

Andy Baker

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

What is the weight on them?

Also, is it housed in 5 x 3 extrusion similar to the single speed/ super shifter?

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

The extrusion is different, but the same overall width. This gearbox uses smaller screws (#10-32). The extrusion wall thickness is 1/8". The hole pattern is different, and is not meant to match up with the AM Gearbox or Super Shifter. The side plates are 1/4" polycarbonate. It will be light. My guess is that it will be about 1.5 lbs... maybe less.

Due to the speed needed of development combined with the simple design, we did not make a prototype. We went straight to production from CAD. We'll see if this risk turns out well.

Andy

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Well, just make sure all the stuff that is supposed to be hard is hardened, and you'll have no problems. :) Your stuff has always worked great!

This is a great idea... it lets us mount heavy motors down low, and have relatively low tension in the chain/pulley that leads up to the gearbox at the shoulder... or where ever. Just the other day I was looking at worm drives to run a shoulder joint and thinking how helpful an off-the-shelf solution in the right size and weight range would be.

Hmm... about the only thing I'd ask for now is for it to have an encoder or potentiometer mount built into the output shaft, and for an integrated brake mechanism to lock it in place.

Not that we can't take care of those items ourselves, of course.

Jason

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Since the input gear is the same as the one on the AM singlespeeds, it should be pretty easy to convert one to accept a small CIM. Maybe you could manufacture a simple conversion plate for this...

It's funny, just a couple of weeks ago I was trying to think of the easiest way to remove one of the reductions from the AM singlespeed!

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Hmm...

This is another good idea. I will look into it.

AB

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Don't encourage him, he's supposed to be studying for finals! :)

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

I'm stunned. What a brilliant idea. No to tell you the truth, I was just looking for models for the AM Single Speed and ran across it. Screw getting my new year's kiss, I'm gonna wait on AndyMark. :D

I like the idea of the stacking planetaries though as well... maybe Andy has plans for that down the road as well. ;)

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

how many of them can you stack up and not break stuff? 3.57 to the 5th power is a big number....multiply that by the torque you can get out of a typical motor .....think final stage BB failure....

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Dude. This is awesome! I have a feeling you'll start seeing AM parts on 114 sometime soon... The quality has been going up and up, and I'm really quite impressed with the stuff you guys are rolling out.

A gearbox that is stackable makes a great arm setup. Sweet!

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Ooh....yeah, that's definitely something to thing about....hopefully there will be some posted "recommended" limitations depending on the torque of your motor. Since they are supposedly infinitely stackable, no matter how hard those gears are hardened, there will always be a breaking point.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Once we get some made (before Christmas, if all goes well), I will stack 2, 3, 4 or even 5 together to see what breaks. My initial guess will be the 3/32" machine key will shear. Hopefully, that is what will happen.

Andy B.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

The only reason I brought it up is that I have seen some "interesting" use of compound gear reduction by a team that didn't seem to understand the problem of too much torque on too small of a shaft. As richardmcc2 noted, publishing a maximum torque spec would be helpful, because the ability to make a 530:1 transmission is really tempting for driving a heavy arm.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Well, most arms I have seen have some sort of sprocket reduction as the final stage. So only 3-4 would be necessary to get that kind of ratio for an arm. Also, I hope that 5 together would be kind of awkwardly big as an extra reminder to rookies that maybe it's not a good idea....

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Stackerbox is now up on the AndyMark site.

An assembly print will be uploaded fairly soon. CAD is already available to download (.stp file).

Thanks for all of the comments.

Enjoy!

Andy B.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

That's neat! and I see you implemented Steve's CIM idea....

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

I love AM, they seem to always put a smile on my face. I was just thinking about gearboxes the other day in school. My team always likes to use chains for our mechanisms but they always seem to fail (usually because if missing pins lol) and this looks like a great alternative. I'm assuming that these will go through some preliminary testing when the first batch is shipped so there's not another BB like issue. Also when their stacked does one bolt right into the other flush or is there a little space and also is there a need to regrease the gears after they have been grease the first time?

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Do you know the weight of one of these?

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Andy said around 1.5 lbs, on the first page of the thread

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Looks very nice. Where is the link to the .stp file? I'm not seeing it.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Sorry. You're right, it is not there yet. I need help from my trusty webmaster, David Kelly.

Andy B.

Re: AndyMark Stackerbox
 

Did you ever get around to trying to break a 4 or 5 stack of Stackerboxes?