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Unread 21-04-2012, 13:42
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thefro526 thefro526 is offline
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AKA: Dustin Benedict
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Re: Polycarbonate side plates for lighter gearboxes

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris is me View Post
It depends on thickness and application. That said, I've never seen 1/4 lexan crack in a gearbox application.

I tend to agree with Sean in terms of absolute efficiency. That said, I've never done a side by side test or anything like that. In my mind, if you're looking to cut weight from a gearbox, start with your gears.
Chris, not to argue with you, but the Polycarbonate (Lexan is a brand name) side-plates on the Toughbox have been known to crack. I've never seen one fail during a match, but I have seen plates with plenty of spider cracks after a season's worth of abuse. That being said, I'd stay far away from using Polycarb or any other plastic for the side plate in a drive transmission.

OP, if you're looking to save some weight from your gearboxes, it's worth playing with lighter gears first - Like Chris said above. West Coast Products and AndyMark sell drop in replacement AL gears (1/3rd the weight of a comparable steel gear) for many of the standard toughbox ratios.
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2005-2012 - Student & Mentor FRC 816
2012-2014 - Technical Mentor, 2014 Drive Coach FRC 341
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