Quote:
Originally posted by Joe Johnson
As to transmissions, [...] I pretty much use straight spur gear transmission. [...]
If I can, I try to put a relatively large set of gears (not wide, but large) no more than one stage after the motor. I attach these gears the shafts using trantorques. I know this will shock a lot of folks, but I love them for 2 reasons #1 The only modifications I have to do to off the shelf gears is to put in the right size hole for the trantorque and #2 I can change my gear ration in a few minutes. [...] Joe J
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OK Joe, NOW you got my attention... I love trantorques, too. I used them at Huron in the CDI two years ago. The idea of using them in a gearbox for ratio changes is intriguing.
But I'm missing something here. HOW do you change a gear ratio in a two plate gearbox without having to drill new holes in the plate??? Changing a gear to a different tooth count changes it's diameter, which affects the spacing between the shafts and changes everything. Can you please describe (or show an image of) your "floating gear" mounting to allow diameter changes to still engage its neighboring gears properly without a new plate set?
BTW, when you make a gearbox, do you make different versions for the two robot sides so that clockwise on a motor always drives the robot in the same direction instead of having to reverse power to one side? We've been noticing "arcs" in our robots from gearbox 180 degree rotations because forward and reverse motor behaviors are different for the same power level. If you ARE making different versions per side, how are you implementing it: via a jackshaft, an extra gear to reverse one side, a double sided output shaft, or what?
Thanks!
- Keith