Quote:
Originally Posted by DampRobot
I've been hoping for a while that Vex/WCP will make a DS style ball shifter with 3 CIMs like you're describing. You could likely fit 3 CIMs around the cluster shaft, because you'd have more space for the gear the CIMs go around because there's no dog. That way, you could get a 3 CIM shifter with only two stages, which would make your gearbox a lot more efficient (and probably more compact and lighter) compared to a VP Ball Shifter with a 3rd stage. I'd guess the majority of teams would prefer to have the option of a more efficient gearbox that could do direct drive over a gearbox that was smaller, but needed an additional reduction before the wheels.
On the other hand, I can see why Vex wouldn't want to self compete, and the existing DS is already pretty good. I just see an opportunity for improvement.
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Something I'm actually looking into is the possibility of using a DS upper cluster shaft to fit the initial stage reduction gear and the two other gears. Instead of having the initial reduction gear in the middle, it would be on the side closest to the cim motors and that way the two other gears are side by side and can work with the Vexpro ball shifter assembly. The vex ball shifter assembly would be one gear width in rather than being aligned with cim pinion gears. The only thing I that might work is the ball shifter assembly might not be long enough to fit properly in the side plate bearing.