Quote:
Originally Posted by artdutra04
Don't do this. This will mean that the shafts would be quadruple supported by four different bearings in four different plates. This is not desirable, as any slight differences in the location of the holes in each of the gearbox plates will cause binding in the bearings.
The only reason why singular 1/8" 6061 aluminum plates without any flanges might have issues for FRC gearboxes is because of flexing in the gearbox plates. Thicker plates or flanges make the plates stiffer. If you have a small gearbox, one 1/8" 6061 plate on each side of the gearbox without any flanges will most likely work just fine, as they won't be able to flex that much.
Alternately, if you have a larger gearbox you can most likely get by with only one 1/8" 6061 plate per side without flanges as long as you have frequent standoffs between the two plates, or if the gearbox plates are tied well into other structure on your robot in a way that prevents the gearbox plates from flexing.
The flexing of a gearbox is not desirable because it could cause bearings to pop out of their holes or shafts to bind.
I would avoid making gearbox plates on a manual mill, unless you have either a highly-experienced machinist or a moderately-experienced machinist and DROs. Otherwise, it's way too easy to put the bearing holes a few thousandths off which could cause excessive binding of the gears.
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What if instead of bearings, I just leave a slot with a bushing slightly larger than the shaft on the outer plate? Or would there be too much friction when load is taken? Ill go ahaid and create some more standoffs in
the critical areas. Thanks a lot for the help!