COTS Parts made just for FIRST Robots

[sanddrag]

If there was a company that sold parts just made specifically for FIRST robots (yes, I know you are thinking AndyMark) what kinds of products would you like to see (be specific) and what kind of prices would you pay and how much interest would there be in such a thing? Thanks.

Please do not make this into a thread debating why this is a good or bad thing. Keep it to part and pricing suggestions only.

[NoodleKnight]

I'd like a company that stocks every type, size, and maybe shape, of gears and sprockets known to this world -- also priced reasonably. If this did exist, I'd be happy.

EDIT: Also it would be nice if they can ship to anywhere in the world -- and send it fast. Oh, and also not run out of stock and put their customers on backorder.

[ChrisCook]

Originally Posted by NoodleKnight

I'd like a company that stocks every type, size, and maybe shape, of gears and sprockets known to this world -- also priced reasonably. If this did exist, I'd be happy.

EDIT: Also it would be nice if they can ship to anywhere in the world -- and send it fast. Oh, and also not run out of stock and put their customers on backorder.

here here!!! I found it really hard find any type of gearing for our robot. That would definatly make it more fair in coming years.

[sanddrag]

I'm wondering, would there be any interest in a COTS frame? If so, what would it be (material, construction, configuration (long/wide), how many wheels, etc) and how much would you expect to pay for it?

[Stephen Kowski]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I'm wondering, would there be any interest in a COTS frame? If so, what would it be (material, construction, configuration (long/wide), how many wheels, etc) and how much would you expect to pay for it?

honestly I wouldn't expect to pay much for it. I can get a entire frame made for less than $50 so i don't expect your ROI would be very high for a frame. But that is just one person's opinion. Plus it would have to be very impressive to beat out what comes in the kit (not that it couldn't be done, but the kit had about everything). I just think a frame would have so many small elements like you mention you would have to plan for would make it a very tough job. As I said before I just do not think your ROI would be very high for a product that teams either can get "free" in the kit or if they do not want that solution they would probably do something custom anyways. that's just my 2 cents.

[Andrew Rudolph]

I would like to see some gearboxes made for arms and things like that using the FP motors. Gear them down to like 15 RPM, maybe even have them with no backdrive. About the Same cost as andymark gearboxes.

Maybe sell a frame with a prebuilt 4 or 6 wheel drive, or where you could buy a frame, wheels and gearboxes from you to quickly make a 4 or 6 wheel drive. Like the kit bot but better. Of course you take a big chance in case the kit bot is improved and your product isnt any better than the kit bot. The frame should cost around what a simmilar frame of 80/20 would cost.

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by Andrew Rudolph

I would like to see some gearboxes made for arms and things like that using the FP motors. Gear them down to like 15 RPM, maybe even have them with no backdrive. About the Same cost as andymark gearboxes.

Check out AndyMark for these. If they have not been added to the list I know that they have been developed and should be available soon. This is another blatant plug for AndyMark and their quality items.

[Ryan Foley]

1) shifting dogs, like AndyMarks of the square type that Andy Brockaway uses in the 716 gearboxes

2) shafts made for the shifting dogs

3) a variety of gear types/ sizes that have cut outs so the above mentioned dogs can engage them

Having a supplier of these would allow teams who dont have advanced machining capabilities or dont have a local machine shop to design and build their own shifting transmissions. The AM Shifters are amazing, but in some cases, perhaps the team needs different high and low gear ratios. These parts would allow them to design/ build their own custom gearbox that fits their needs. Or they could be used in 4-speed gearboxes.

Two crazy ideas (could take away the fun/ innovation that these drives already have, but thats a debate for another thread):
1) mecanum wheels like 190 used? Those could be fun.

2) turntables like Team 79's for use in a swerve drive? Just a simple turntable with a rectangular hole in the middle for the wheel, and some bolt holes so the gear system could be mounted on top. I dont know if 79 made the ones they use, or bought the, but I havent found any company that sells a similar product yet. Maybe they could even have large sprockets included with the turntable so teams dont have to search around for sprockets big enough to fit onto the turntables.

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by Ryan Foley

2) turntables like Team 79's for use in a swerve drive? Just a simple turntable with a rectangular hole in the middle for the wheel, and some bolt holes so the gear system could be mounted on top. I dont know if 79 made the ones they use, or bought the, but I havent found any company that sells a similar product yet. Maybe they could even have large sprockets included with the turntable so teams dont have to search around for sprockets big enough to fit onto the turntables.

They're not the exact same, but lazy susan bearings work well as turntables for swerve drive, and they're pretty cheap and available at Home Depot.

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by Andrew Rudolph

Maybe sell a frame with a prebuilt 4 or 6 wheel drive, or where you could buy a frame, wheels and gearboxes from you to quickly make a 4 or 6 wheel drive. Like the kit bot but better. Of course you take a big chance in case the kit bot is improved and your product isnt any better than the kit bot. The frame should cost around what a simmilar frame of 80/20 would cost.

I'm curious as to what sort of improvements you would like to the kit bot? The kit bot provides all the functionality you describe. Considering that it's part of the KOP, I can't imagine that there'd be much of a market for this type of product unless you have some sort of idea on how to establish differentiation.

[Conor Ryan]

An adaptor for that you could use a servo to switch the AndyMark tranny instead of the Pneumatic shift. Also a servo shifter for the Dewalt Transmission too. I'd price them about $30-$45 range depending on the price of the design and the servo.

[John Gutmann]

Originally Posted by cdr1122334455

An adaptor for that you could use a servo to switch the AndyMark tranny instead of the Pneumatic shift. Also a servo shifter for the Dewalt Transmission too. I'd price them about $30-$45 range depending on the price of the design and the servo.

my team used a servo for shifting of the dewalt transmission, we found out how in one of the white papers

[Matt Leese]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

my team used a servo for shifting of the dewalt transmission, we found out how in one of the white papers

What you didn't really add was that it never worked particularly well. The servo barely had enough power to shift the transmission and sometimes it would get stuck out of gear. If it were done again, it would require two servos shifting each DeWalt (at least).

Matt

[Sparks333]

Originally Posted by Matt Leese

What you didn't really add was that it never worked particularly well. The servo barely had enough power to shift the transmission and sometimes it would get stuck out of gear. If it were done again, it would require two servos shifting each DeWalt (at least).

Matt

You want to be careful with that. It's popular method with RC model airplanes (the really big ones, like 33% Extra 300's) to gang two or more servos to make a really big control surface move (I have most often seen this in the rudder, though there are often more than one servos driving each aileron) and I have seen some articles about how they can fight each other if not calibrated correctly, reducing battery and servo life. There are COTS parts that keep them from doing this, but I don't know how they work.
Just something to look into.

Sparks

[Joe Johnson]

1) I think a good channel select, Autonomous Mode select, Estop box would be great.

2) I would also like a turn key, wireless programming link (including the ability to activate the "robot reset" and "program" switches.

3) Although IFI is probably about to redo the IO, I think it would be great to have some easy breakout board that would make customizing OI easier. I am thinking something that would plug into all the joystick ports but it would allow you to plug in 4 joysticks but you could use jumpers to map any of the joystick switches and pots to any of the joystick ports.

Also, I'd put a few LEDs on the board and some switches, along with a few slider pots and a few knobs and let those be patched in easily too.

It is probably not going to happen, but it would be a nice thing to have.

Joe J.