Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

I think he means using nonsliding bearing blocks in 1/16" would allow you to not have to use 1/8".

I also think what he was getting at was using sliding blocks in 1/16" wouldn't work (which I agree with).

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

Okay thanks.

Oops I meant 2inch X 2inch, I am just distracted by the smell of all the food here for thanksgiving I made a mistake.

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

Aren Hill would certainly disagree, but I think you should switch to 2x1 rather than 2x2, and have the belts outside the frame (similar to a "west coast drive"). I see no advantage to hiding the belts and making repair, maintenance, etc. extremely difficult.

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

Our setup has the belts in the tube largely from our chosen gearbox arrangement, which is arranged how it is due to manufacturing capabilities.
So there is some reasoning behind our madness (occasionally) .

If we were direct driving with a toughbox we'd probably have the belts on the inside face of the frame rail similar to most WCD's.

Also ours is still in the experimental stage and follow at your own risk

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

If you're already using 1/8" tubing, you can omit bearing blocks if you don't have a reason to use them. This cuts a small amount of weight from a system that used 1/8" tubing with bearing blocks. Adam covered what else I was trying to say (not doing a very good job of communicating today).

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

Here is the second revision, thanks for everyone's advice, I believe most concerns have been addressed.

Once again thank you guys for your help. :)

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

I would ditch the slots above the bearing blocks, combined with the bearing slots they are really weakening the fraem there.

Also, rather than cutting clearance in 2x1, you can also just use 1x1 and center it on the frame.

Other than that, it's massive improvement over your initial design! Keep it up!

For the gearbox, it may b easier to bolt a small plate to the frame rail, and then use on set of bolts to go through all three plates with standoffs (the two roughbox plates, and the mounting plate).

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

I understand what your talking about when it comes to the 1x1 frame on the front support in the center of the frame. But what happens if the belt somehow manages to break? Wouldn't that render an incredibly difficult or near impossible task to fix?

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

My main criticism is that it looks exactly like the first iteration of my drivetrain I was working on over break :(

Now I have to skip a revision and work on a new one :P

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

It wouldn't be impossible at all. Instead of welding that brace have it bolted on.

Drive looks great, can't wait to see it built.

-RC

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

Sorry for my understanding I thought they were welding the frame together...

Yes possible if bolted, but they mentioned welding which is why I pointed that out...

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

Okay here is the revision number 3. I added in L-brackets for the front bar, to run the belts over and under it. I did say that we were welding, but when I changed the dimensions of the bar I just dropped brackets in. Also I fixed the transmission mounts.

Thanks again

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

Looking good, the gearbox mounts could probably be 1/8", or pocketed.

Curious, what are the slots over the bearing blocks for?

I did totally miss the whole belt around frame member thing, Make sure you leave the ability for quick replacement.

Whats nice about this setup is its trivially easy to change it for a super shifter rather than a toughbox.

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

Okay thanks for the tip. Oops the slots were supposed to be gone, they were originally for getting access to the internal belts, but those are gone now so they should be deleted.

Yeah I wish we had enough time to create our own shifter but we are a little short on time.

Re: Team 1671: Off-season belt drive prototype
 

The system design is what matters. It little sense to do custom shifters before you have every aspect of the robot covered; the decision to use COTS gearboxes is a good one!

Keep it up, the progress you've made today is great.