"ICE" Cube Cooler Kit

[Doc Wu]

"ICE" Cube Cooler Kit in the kit of parts. What is it and what purpose does it serve? I've Googled it and searched CD to no avail. All I found was teams that received one when the KOP checklist called for two. (We received only one. I'm assuming it's a typo or inventory shortfall.)

Inquiring minds want to know!

Edit: It's listed in the "Where to get more" document from FIRST. The source is ebm-papst, the company that donates the fans, and is listed as "not available for purchase." I searched the manufacturer's web site for 'ICE Cube' and got nothing.

[Alfaa123]

Very curious about this also. Our guess was that is was for the 5v voltage regulator for the router, but it doesn't even get hot enough to require active cooling.

I wonder if it's just one of those extra donated things without a specific purpose.

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by Doc Wu

"ICE" Cube Cooler Kit in the kit of parts. What is it and what purpose does it serve? I've Googled it and searched CD to no avail. All I found was teams that received one when the KOP checklist called for two. (We received only one. I'm assuming it's a typo or inventory shortfall.)

Inquiring minds want to know!

Edit: It's listed in the "Where to get more" document from FIRST. The source is ebm-papst, the company that donates the fans, and is listed as "not available for purchase." I searched the manufacturer's web site for 'ICE Cube' and got nothing.

Oooohhhh I think that's one of the things that were mentioned in the kick off video; something about active cooling of motors and an all aluminum heat sink for CIMs. I may be entirely wrong, but IIRC that's what it is.

EDIT: I was right. Click the link to go to the kickoff video at the time that they explain what's new in the kit.

[brennanvhoek]

It works with the RS (I believe 775) style motors as an extra fan to cool them from the side. Look at the pattern on the bottom side of the blue box. It matches up with the pattern on the RS motors.

[Trent B]

It allows for addition active cooling of a RS-XXX series motor, the green and red baffles appear to allow for different motor sizes.

This would be especially relevant in a application where the motor is expected to come close to stall torque as it may prevent the motor from burning up the windings.

[Doc Wu]

I sort of thought that might be it. The CIM cooler was pretty self-evident (and we'd probably use them) but the cube was not so obvious.

I haven't seen ours since Saturday, so I haven't even been able to unwrap it and look at the pieces.

Too bad you can't get more, though. What if you want two? Guess they're trade items between teams!

I missed parts of the kickoff video too. The kickoff I went to had "technical difficulties" getting and keeping it showing. Thanks for the link. I'll rewatch it.

[donkehote]

So for the teams who got only one, they will be unable to have an exact copy practice bot, as they are unavailable for purchase.

Sweet.

Just for that reason, I don't see 1310 using them. We would probably end up making fan mounts ourselves, as we can have exact copies, just like we did last year.

[jsasaki]

if you google http://first.ebmpapst.us/ there are some instructions online

[yash101]

I followed the link on the packaging and it is a motor cooler. I think it is mostly aimed at those smaller motors, like the 500s series. It is just and active cooler, and not something to be scared of using on motors prone to stalling!

[apalrd]

Forced air cooling on an open RS-550 or 775 motor does quite a good job at keeping the motor cool. The motors already have a fan but it is integral to the motor and driven by the motor shaft, so it would obviously not run when the motor is stalled or not running.

On the other hand, cooling a closed CIM motor does almost nothing to the internal temperatures as there is very poor heat transfer between the hot parts (armature) and the case. See http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...13#post1215913 for some nice data on CIM temperatures. That said, I have seen benefit to forced air CIM cooling when the fans run between matches (10mins or more) or between batteries during practice sessions. But the weight is best spent elsewhere during a match.

[Matt178]

Hello Teams!

Matt Crossman here from ebm-papst Inc. in Farmington, CT. Your assumptions are correct, the "ICE" Cube is for cooling the RS-5XX and RS-7XX Motors.

Though it may not be necessary, as an alumnus of FIRST I have first hand experience with these motors burning out when run at too high a speed for extended periods of time, or when run in a confined space.

Instructions for using the "ICE" Cube can be found here.

As of now the only way to acquire extra "ICE" Cubes is to contact ebm-papst Inc.

Phone: 1-(860)-674-1515
Address: 100 Hyde Rd. Farmington, CT 06034, USA

Best of luck teams! Stay Cool!