VEX part strengths

[efoote868]

For my senior design project, my group is looking to build a GoTo telescope. Since we're all electrical / computer engineers, mechanical design isn't really one of our strengths.

Mechanically, what we want to design is a two joint solution that allows us to spin and incline. We'd like our solution to be independent of both tripod and telescope - that is we can attach the solution to a standard tripod mount, and then also have a mechanism to attach to a telescope.


There are a few design considerations. One is that we need to have slow and precise movements, probably no more than 10 degrees / second. Also we might need relatively large amounts of torque, considering the size and length of some telescopes. The motion of action on the inclination needs to be close to 90 degrees.


There are lots of things appealing to me about using VEX. My primary concern right now is the part strengths. I'd rather not break a bunch of VEX parts to find out that I can't use it


Initially, my questions are:

How much weight can the turntable bearing kit support,
http://www.vexrobotics.com/vex/produ.../276-1810.html

How much torque can be applied to the square bar shafts,
http://www.vexrobotics.com/vex/produ...on/shafts.html

and gears,
http://www.vexrobotics.com/276-2250.html

And lastly, is this is type of information published anywhere?