[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

And buy your way out of creating a solution? There are plenty of ways to get a 12:1 reduction without going for the pre-made DeWalt boxes. I mean, you could design a clone, or a totally different system. You might even learn something! I suppose I would be inclined to travel the educational path though, at least for this competetion.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a proud member of the small but mighty "'I think FRC has gotten too easy' Club" but this does bring up the point (which hypocritically I have combated in other threads) that why put yourself through more work if you don't have to? Why go through the trouble if an off-the-shelf solution will fulfill your needs.

To make your own planetary is a tricky business. Finding ring gears with the desired attributes is no easy task. You'd probably have to have some custom made. And the list of difficulties goes on.

To make a spur gear reduction box, I think it is a very educational and rewarding project. However, spur gears aren't cheap, and dewalt transmissions are. Also, a great deal of weight reduction machining must be done.