VEXPro - After the season

[ToddF]

Originally Posted by Jared341

As a meta comment to all FRC suppliers this year I will say that one of my bigger frustrations has been with all things hex.

Finding straight, well-toleranced hex shaft that has a decent fit on runout- and wobble-free hex bearings/gears/sprockets has been a real pain. We had to mix and match hex products from VexPro, AndyMark, West Coast Products, and McMaster (and re-broach/clean up some pieces ourselves) to make assemblies that we could slide together while still being mostly runout/wobble free.

Amen. I wish to heaven above that the major FRC suppliers (AndyMark, VEX, WCProducts) would get together and agree on some standards for their hex products that would allow them to fit together properly and interchangeably. Hand fitting parts went out in the late 1800's, people. Hex shafting has the potential to be such a boon, and once everything is sorted and hand fitted, it's great. But, that sorting and fitting process is incredibly frustrating. We really try hard not to swear in front of the kids, but when it takes two days to put together something that should take two hours, there is a lot of under the breath muttering going on.