Quote:
Originally Posted by pauline589
Do any of you build/design your own gearboxes?
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Actually, a few people commenting in this thread use custom gearboxes, but they are trying to get you to make a fully informed decision.
It seems to me, that if you feel like the AM gearboxes lack some level of quality, then perhaps you are not maintaining them properly. Of course you guys could have put the gearboxes through a particularly strenuous season/off-season, but many teams use the same gearboxes with little to no issues.
Most of the times, teams use custom gearboxes for the flexibility in design that they offers. People like to customize their ratios, build them to fit their chassis designs, and cut a lot of weight.
If this is the case, then the three criteria above are the first things you need to address.
For instance:
- What's the ratio? The ratio is important for obvious reasons, but it can be tough to nail down. This also requires you to answer exactly how the gearbox is being utilized. Is this going to be dedicated only to the DT? Are you planning on using it on manipulators as well?
- What's the interfacing? This needs to mount onto your chassis/frame. So you need to take that into account when you go into set up your gears/motors and when you go to design the side plates.
- Where can you be more efficient? You have to look into where you can be more efficient. This definitely includes weight, but gear usage is also a big one here.
I've never actually used/implemented a custom gearbox but I've designed/CADed multiple. Maybe someone with more experience would like to chime in with tips or suggestions.
- Sunny G.