View Single Post
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-01-2015, 12:34
JesseK's Avatar
JesseK JesseK is online now
Expert Flybot Crasher
FRC #1885 (ILITE)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 3,736
JesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond reputeJesseK has a reputation beyond repute
Re: When is a "motor" a "motor"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Scouser View Post
Here is the link to the web site.

It would be truly wonderful if it is legal to use.

My fear is that it is not.

http://www.e-motioninc.com/Double_Ra...or_p/p-200.htm

I am looking to see if we can replace the existing motor with an off the shelf window motor. I guess I need to read the rules again to check the impact.

Thanks for the help so far.
As-is, this product isn't a motor but an entire actuation system. There is no vagueness in how this particular part is sold - as a kit of motor + rack/pinion.

With that said, there are plenty of examples where COTS items have their motors replaced by FRC-legal motors for legal use in a competition - Vaccuum pumps, acme screw-based linear actuators and multi-speed Dewalt drills are three that immediately come to mind.

As pedantic as it sounds, even if the motor in that link were around the same power rating as a typical Van Door or Window motor, I don't know for sure that it would be legal to use since it came with a kit for a specific type of actuation. In the 3 examples above, some of the motors are identical but have the wrong part # on the motor and that makes the COTS setup illegal to use as-is (thus the replacement FRC-legal motor). In this actuator's case, it's a gray area given the wording of the rules. Personally I wouldn't take the risk, and would replace the actuator's motor with a Window motor from prior years' KOP - though that's easy for me since we have so many sitting around.

Last edited by JesseK : 12-01-2015 at 12:38.