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Unread 09-06-2015, 13:40
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nuclearnerd nuclearnerd is offline
Speaking for myself, not my team
AKA: Brendan Simons
FRC #5406 (Celt-X)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Rookie Year: 2014
Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 447
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Re: Fantasy Product's-what u wish was made

Here's a new one: Hardware to make 1" tube an FRC "standard" for drive shafts.

Currently 1/2" hex bar is very popular for torque carrying shafts because it's common to many FRC parts. Unfortunately, you quickly find that 1/2" 7075 aluminum is pretty flimsy if you overhang the load by more than an inch or so, or if the angle of twist is important. A 1" OD x 1/16" wall aluminum tube is easy to source, about the same weight as 1/2" hex, 2.5 times as stiff in bending and torsion, fits through a 1.125" bore wheel*. Thicker tube can be used for even higher stiffness and strength. There are also plenty of lightweight pillowblock bearings available for 1" shafts.

If someone made a two piece hub that clamped tightly enough on a 1" tube to transfer torque, and had a 1/2" hex bore and/or a versahub/AM bolt pattern, it would enable teams to use 1" tubes for drive shafts where the loads would twist 1/2" hex bar (dual chain lifts, four bar linkages, roller intakes etc).

...and go.

*Vex Wheels anyway. AM HiGrip wheels are actually 0.96" bore at their smallest, so they wouldn't work on the shaft without modification

Last edited by nuclearnerd : 09-06-2015 at 13:50. Reason: Added link to Igus bearings for 1" shafts