View Single Post
  #18   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-11-2013, 22:40
Pault's Avatar
Pault Pault is offline
Registered User
FRC #0246 (Overclocked)
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Rookie Year: 2012
Location: Boston
Posts: 618
Pault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond reputePault has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Shifting Gearboxes

Quote:
Originally Posted by pmangels17 View Post
We always use a double solenoid, and we also use plumb both shifters to one valve so they throw at the same time. Please remember to USE PNEUMATICS TO SHIFT. Servo shifting is pure garbage and wont work under the the slightest pressure against the side of a dog, such as when pushing.

We usually start in low gear, and use high gear when we want to go really fast.

We have never tried using ball shifters, but since we have familiarity with the dog shifting style used in AndyMark gearboxes, and it has proved reliable so far as a shifting method, that probably won't change. Dog shifting is proven and tested, but ball shifters have been generally well reviewed as well, though they may be harder to implement in a custom gearbox.
What would you say to the team that does not plan to use pneumatics on their robot, but wants shifting? Do they add the weight, space, and complexity for an entire pneumatics system? Or do they just decide that they can't shift?

Honestly, if you already have pneumatics on your robot, then there really is no good reason to not use it for shifting. But if you don't, it's not the end of the world. Servo shifting is better than no shifting at all. In fact, I think that it actually is not that much worse than pneumatics.