chrisL: a new Robot store
 

I'm currently starting a small business that will offer robotics components for FRC team. What type of COTS would everyone be interested in purchasing? With all your help i hope to develop a product line to accommodate everyones needs. We will stride to give everyone a fair and cheap price without compromising quality.

P.S. This business is my own venture and is not affiliated with Team 1114


--Chris

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Chris,

If you made Aluminum gears, I know that team 1323 would buy 500 bucks worth right away. Maybe the same teeth count as AM ones.

-RC

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Chris, I would also be interested in gears but normal steel ones if you had a bit more of a selection than AM has.

thanks, Vivek

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Things that would be nice, are not "complete" systems, and are hard to find in FIRST quantities/sizes/weights/prices:

Aluminum gears/pocketed steel gears
Slip rings
Pneumatic brakes/clutches/ratchets
118-style floating idlers (hard rubber or metal) for #25 and #35 chain
Harmonic drive gear boxes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_drive - good luck with this one!)
Differentials
Ball-lock shifters
CVTs (dual cone type)
IVTs (planetary gearbox with driven sun and ring gears)
Ball casters that are resistant to debris
Suspension components

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Sell 1114's secrets for winning ):

A lot of us would pay high prices for that.

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

A complete line of spur gear boxes with a range of ratios (similar to banebots) that can interface with globes, FP, or rs545.

Large tooth count lightened steel gears (or alu), plain bore and hex.

Also I would like to see Ball-lock shifters or at least some other choices.

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Those are free. :)

http://www.simbotics.org/workshops

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Karthiks :p:rolleyes:

Seriously, though, FP gearbox interface octagons (key or kex bore, various standard sizes) would probably sell pretty well.
lift components (rollers/sliders, custom pre-crimped cable lengths, winches) aren't exactly commonly sold.

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

For the first while i just want to get a few different gearboxes made.

Currently i have a single speed in the manufacturing process and i have a 2 speed being designed.

http://www.chrisl.biz/home

there is a link to my site it currently is under construnction so it does not have much on it but keep an eye on it i will be updating it.

I plan to have available a single speed and a 2 speed before build season starts

Thanks

--Chris

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

I'm not really sure why you wouldn't just buy these from SDP/Martin/Boston/etc?

Do you mean finished gears with keyways, hexes, etc?

Jared: the tensioners you're looking for exist in #35 on McMaster.

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

I did mean finished gears. Both 3/8 and 1/2 hex would be nice.

-vivek

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Some 3" and 5" wheels would be nice. Hex and Keyed bores.

I'd love to see some commercially available ball-lock shifters. Even a ball-lock 2 speed would be nice to see if it could be sold under $300.

AndyMark has a lot of great products. But a lot of them, like the shifters are pretty expensive. This isn't a rip on AM by any means, but it would be nice to see some competition.

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Competition in a smaller market is a lot tougher than most people think than it is on a larger level because you don't have volume to compensate for a lower net income. Just a thought....

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

...Never said it was easy. Only said that it would be appreciated. ;)

I agree though. If your goal is to develop a successful business, you need to understand your disadvantages and figure out a way to survive in this kind of market. Even if you can design a cheaper or lighter gearbox than already available, can you sell it for less? Can you maintain a high enough level of quality? Can you handle the demand?

Best of luck to you.

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Differentials
Some sort of adapter for the 6-hole standard pattern seen in FRC wheels such that smaller sprockets may be put on the wheels
Motor mounting plates for popular transmissions including the FP gearbox, BaneBots planetary, and a direct CIM, FP, or BB motor mount.
4" mecanum wheel

Rather than competing with AM on the product line that both Andy and Mark have spent years perfecting, I'd recommmend getting into the game by establishing a foothold in the market in a place they haven't yet explored or by offering a product that is truly superior by design. They're pretty good at doing quality wheels and transmissions, though maybe I'm biased.

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

If you have a suggestion for as what products you would like to see chrisL offer please visit http://www.chrisl.biz/suggestions

Thanks

--chrisL

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Just a suggestion: Add a reasonable price column. If you don't, there is a chance you will see people requesting an item and then not buying it when they see your price. It will also allow you to figure up which items are worth working on and which aren't.

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Thats a good idea i just added it.
could you do me a favour and add something to it to ensure that it works.

Thanks

--chrisL

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Did my facetious test work?

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Yes it worked perfectly

Thank you very much

--chrisL

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

possibly if you cater to robotics in general along with first robotics you could capture a larger market?

I would also like to see a larger selection of off road kind of wheels! (for a decent price)

-mcgurky

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

A Canadian robotics company, never thought I would see the day. Beware the whole "free trade system", not to mention cross border shipping (unless of course you make an awesome product, and the 1114 association would suggest this...). Either way, Good Luck with this ambitious venture.

Some innovative Mecanums would be a potentially good product (perhaps not, due to the popularity of the swerve), like those with a two piece wheel (better for climbing), or even some kind of an individual wheel brake (I have yet to think of a good way how though...).

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

Just a update on the progress of chrisL

I will be holding off on offering products until the 2011 season.

I want to ensure the quality of my products before i begin to sell them.

If anyone has a request for what they would like to see available from chrisL for the 2011 season please fell free to email me at:

christopher.lyddiatt@chrisl.biz

or

visit this page and leave a suggestion.

Thanks

--chrisL

Re: chrisL: a new Robot store
 

my team might be interested in a single location to find all teh belts and sprockets that are associated with them. right now its too confusing and and spread out to get the stuff we need