|
We have used various methods for attaching sprockets to shafts the last few years. Dowel pins sometimes shear, and are a pain to remove and then reinstall.
If the sprocket will fit on a 1/2" shaft, you can use a 10-32 cap screw instead of the dowel pin. However, this requires a large shaft and sprocket.
Only at our last competition in October did we try set screws with a flat ground on the shaft (10-32 set screw). After wanting to gear the robot down even further, we chose 12 tooth sprockets mounted on 1/4" shafts connected to the drill motors. Our belt walked off the track, locking everything up. The drill motor had enough torque to stretch the chain and move the plate the motors were mounted to, to the point the chain jumped teeth. It eventually bound up, and we smoked our drill motor and toasted a breaker. The set screw never budged which amazed me.
I guess they're stronger than the dowel pins we've sheared, and a whole lot easier than the cap screws (package better too).
|