Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris is me
If you're attached to .090, here's an off the wall idea: Make your output shaft a dead axle, and use VersaHubs and bearing bore gears / sprockets to couple everything together. That way you can make your axle a standoff, serving as a structural member of the gearbox. This adds rigidity right where you need it.
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We run our last reduction outside our gearbox, and run a dead axle on the wheel. While we haven't had to do it on competition, we are careful to design it so that our transmissions can be pulled very quickly with minimal effort. Our last reduction is a gear reduction outside the gearbox to enable this. This also reduces the loads inside the gearbox significantly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris is me
Considering it's sheet metal, flanges are basically "free". Some teams use the flanges to stand off the gearbox instead of standoffs - this is only really an option if your sheet metal shop is really good at holding tolerances.
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After the first bend, the bends are 'free'. By running flat plates, you can pick different materials, and shortcircuit an entire part of the process, making it cheaper for sponsors. Food for thought. We put bends in where we need them, and don't worry too much.
We have been running 090 on our gearboxes for years. Make sure that there aren't unsupported large gearbox faces, and tie your standoffs to the plates close to the CIM bolts to create a better load path. Should be fine after that. Do be aware that VP's flanged bearings have a relief that makes them practically unusable with 090 sheet. They press in up until the flange, and then rattle around...
We ran 4 CIMs last year, and will run 4 CIMs again. There is a good chance that 1678 will join us next year, and 'upgrade' from 6 CIMs. They sat dead at SVR in the finals due to a dead breaker. I'd rather our driver push a slightly slower bot to the limit than have to baby a faster bot to keep it running until the end of the match. Food for thought.