VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

I bought several of the Radio Shack V.5 kits, and noticed there were NO shaft collars in any of them! Running to the hardware store, I find they are both VERY expensive (several dollars each!), AND the standard sizes they stock don't QUITE fit the 1/8" square shafts.

SO... I need to fab some ASAP *today* on a lathe, for an event starting TOMORROW! (I have the raw bar stock for this now...)

Could someone please quickly measure a standard collar, and post the specs for it?
I NEED: ... ID, OD, Width, Setscrew size & type (thread, length)...

The setscrew isn't vital (the first 3 numbers are more important to me), but it would be NICE to only require the same basic Allen Wrench as the cap head screws and have them mix with others, so I'm ASSUMING it's either a 10-24 or 10-32 Allen Head setscrew.

Thanks!

- Keith

Re: VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

According to the CAD model here:

ID: 0.1650in
OD: 0.4331in
Width: .2600in

The setscrew appears to be an 8-32 of length .1300in

Assuming the model is accurate, these dimensions should be.

Re: VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

Wow.... Thanks for the quick reply!

BTW... Are you SURE about the setscrew? According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hex_key ,
a #8 setscrew NORMALLY uses a 9/64" allen wrench, whereas
a #10 setscrew NORMALLY uses the 5/32"
(which I *thought* was the VEX screw wrench, isn't it?)

I'd be REALLY surprised if you'd need two different wrenches.
(Maybe they obtained a non-standard 8-32 screw, to keep it compatible...)

Unfortunately, I don't have a compatible CAD available right now to view those docs.

OOC, Can you please take another quick peek at the CAD again, and see which WRENCH the setscrew uses? Is it 5/32", or another size?
(To measure an Allen Wrench's size, simply measure between opposite flats.)

Thanks again!
- Keith

Re: VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

The cad shows it as 5/64. I know that the wrench for the setscrew is the same wrench as for the 6-32 motor mount screws, which is indeed smaller than the standard 8-32 vex screws.

Re: VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

The setscrew on a VEX lock collar DEFINITELY is 8-32, and the allen wrench size is 5/64". Trust me on this. I've purchased hundreds for our VEX teams.

Re: VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

As an extension, you shouldn't even worry about the set screw if you are short on time. Any normal 8-32 screw from the vex kit will work, and you won't have to worry about the 5/64" allen wrench either.

Re: VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

You might want to try a hobby store. They'll probably be called "wheel collars" found usually with the r/c airplane stuff. They use them to attach wheels onto planes which freespin.

Good luck!

Re: VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

I also have bought them in small quantity from our local Ace Hardware. The cheapest place I've found is the VEX Website -- cheaper than McMaster-Carr.

Re: VEX Shaft Collar Specs - Help!
 

Yes, making them and McM-C are both more expensive that buying them from VEX. Even with the one day overnight they will be cheaper to buy from them.