Quote:
Originally Posted by roboticWanderor
Team 418's "Wood Coast" drive train was a basic west coast style created using nothing more than common woodworking tools. It is achievable to make these designs using nothing more than a saw and drill press. going down from sliding bearing blocks, multi-speed transmissions, and direct axle drive can really simplify a design, and rid your team of the need for a mill, or other machine work. I hate to say this, but the "west coast" drive trains used by team's such as 254 are overly complex, and require a lot of machining compared to equivalent designs. Many teams (who win a lot too) go without expensive options such as direct drive gearboxes, such as 1114, or 330.
PS: sorry for ragging on your robots guys, i just wanted to make the point that these types of designs are possible without the use of expensive machines or parts.
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254/968's iteration is the simplest West Coast Drives I've ever seen. They took some liberties and cut a lot of weight by increasing the machining complexity, but they have the resources to do it. A CNC doesn't care if it's cutting a curve or a straight line. They could very easily scale back the design to be "easier" to make and it would still be the simplest West Coast Drive.
Also, separate issue; a West Coast Drive is center wheel direct driven, cantilevered wheels in 2x1 extrusion, #25 chain from gearbox to outer wheels on the inside of the frame. Any similar bases are just similar, not West Coast Drives.