A Simple Elevator

[MichaelBick]

Originally Posted by Adam.garcia

Slightly skewing off the main conversation here, but I have another question pertaining to building a minimalist and robust elevator system:

I know the elevator is not taking a lot of horizontal load, but how do you ensure that there is enough support to prevent the elevator from leaning forward/backward? I see that Adam Heard of 973 has what looks like a minimal amount of support on Emporer Swerve, and I was wondering how our team should go about determining how much support is needed.

The actual elevator frame needs to be just as rigid as a regular frame. Nothing special there. Putting bearing blocks on the top of the frame and the bottom of the 2nd stage adequately prevents the elevator from swaying.

[Adam.garcia]

Originally Posted by MICHAELABICK

The actual elevator frame needs to be just as rigid as a regular frame. Nothing special there. Putting bearing blocks on the top of the frame and the bottom of the 2nd stage adequately prevents the elevator from swaying.

How about the connection between the complete elevator assembly and the drive train. As seen in 254's 2011 design, the elevator system was nicely supported with gussets that served as their minibot deployment system. But, looking at 973's Emporer Swerve, they have very small plates keeping the elevator upright.

Do you have any advice on how much support is necessary on this connection?

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Adam.garcia

How about the connection between the complete elevator assembly and the drive train. As seen in 254's 2011 design, the elevator system was nicely supported with gussets that served as their minibot deployment system. But, looking at 973's Emporer Swerve, they have very small plates keeping the elevator upright.

Do you have any advice on how much support is necessary on this connection?

You can see we actually had quite substantial support in the form of turnbuckles.

This must not be in the .step we posted?

It's hard to quantity exactly what framing needs to be there, which is the same for most FRC frames. A decent, solid triangle is usually never a bad choice though.

[pfreivald]

1/16" steel cable is extremely light, really annoying to work with, and excellent at stabilizing elevators.