[patrickrd]

Originally posted by Andrew Rudolph
Pins are bad, if there is alot of torque we have had some realllly bad problems with pins breaking in the past. would advise asgainst it.
Andrew

Pins aren't always bad if you make sure they have a large enough radius to withhold the maximum applied load. However, if you use pins you should be careful... Depending on the setup, the material around the pin may actually be a lot more susceptible than the pin itself. Lots of time, the material around it will yield (deform to a great enough extent that when the load is released the material does not regain it's original shape). As a result, lots of times the pins will fall out because the pin is no longer a press-fit and is loose. I've seen a number of cases in my years with first where pins fall out during matches or at the worst possible times. I've never seen a pin break although it certainly can happen.

There are also many ways to use pins. You can place them in a number of different geometries, each having certain advantages and disadvantages. I've done a bit of research into pins for a class I'm taking so if you would like I can post all the different types of pins you can use and how to make the associated stress calculations.

- Patrick