I have to assume that FIRST has talked to BaneBots about the intended use of all these motors, as part of their order. If FIRST hasn't explained this, they need to.
Assuming that, my preferred course of action would be to put BaneBots on a kind of probation.
Explain the constraints, and tell them that the continued purchase of thousands of BaneBots motors is contingent on a few things:
- FIRST just handed you a pile of money for all those motors. Don't take this for granted.
- There's one string attached: you need to guarantee that there will be sufficient stock of that exact motor, all the way through the season. If you're not willing to guarantee this, inform FIRST prior to making the sale.
- There will be a lot of orders in January, because FIRST has kindly created a monopoly for you. The least you can do is keep the customers happy.
- There's only one way to make customers really happy: sell good stuff at a fair price, and deliver it fast. (You're a third of the way there, at best.)
- FIRST's participants demand real spec sheets, from the manufacturer. Provide them. Even if they're in Chinese.
- Don't advise your customers to induce a short circuit to sever a winding, in response to a manufacturing defect.
- Stand by your product. Unless you make it clear that you're selling these motors as is with no warranty, it's your duty to make sure the product is fit for use. (But if you're not going to provide product support, don't bother trying to sell motors to FIRST. They aren't equipped to deal with unreliable suppliers. They'll just find someone else to import the same goods.)
- Ask FIRST (in confidence) for a summary of the motor-related constraints that will apply to teams. Understand that teams are bound by these rules, and don't suggest options that would cause them to violate those rules. This especially means no substitution of motors—only the exact model will do.
While that might be a lot to ask of an ordinary business, BaneBots isn't an ordinary business. They exist in large part due to the competitive robotics market, and ought to be able to serve that market without making stupid mistakes.
As for the gearboxes, my advice to BaneBots is to spend a few thousand dollars on testing. Figure out the limitations of your products
before you sell them.