VEXPro Out of Stock

[Grant Cox]

Originally Posted by ksafin

Thanks Aren.

One last question - the page for the WCP DS Gearbox says "Note: A pneumatic shifting cylinder is not included in the Ball Shifter kit. Be sure to add one in the "Pancake Cylinder Option" category if needed."

Is this just for the VexPro BallShifter, or does the WCP DS WCD Gearbox also not include the Pancake cylinder and it must be ordered separately?

Just need to know if we should order two of them since we bought the WCP DS WCD gearbox.

Thanks.

Oops, I'll take this one. Sometimes we copy and paste notes from one page to the next... sometimes we forget to change product names..

Pancake cylinders are not included in either the Ball Shifter or WCP DS kits. You can grab a spare cylinder from the pneumatics page if needed.

[m1506m]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

As an aside, we have found that the CAD files of the vex parts have made 3D printing a breeze. We have printed out gussets etc. which have allowed us to move forward with pre-production of our practice bot. We know it won't stand up to much, but we can replace them when the real stuff arrives.

Where do you find the cad files?

[geomapguy]

Originally Posted by m1506m

Where do you find the cad files?

At the bottom of the product page

[DavisDad]

Originally Posted by geomapguy

VexPro seems to be going out of stock of some items. Specifically hex shaft stock and maybe some versa planetary parts?

Any other sources to get hex shaft besides AndyMark and VexPro

I ordered this 1/2" hex shaft stainless Tuesday evening and received ysterday afternoon. I have the Prime subscription and next day cost $4; standard ground shipping is free. We had a defective ToughBox long shaft.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by DavisDad

I ordered this 1/2" hex shaft stainless Tuesday evening and received ysterday afternoon. I have the Prime subscription and next day cost $4; standard ground shipping is free. We had a defective ToughBox long shaft.

Just something to be aware of - hex stock from sources other than VexPro tend to run oversized. You will probably need to do some machining to get these shafts to fit through bearings and even some broached parts.

The undersized Vex hex stock is probably my favorite product that Vex offers. Seriously saves us many, many hours milling the faces of hex shafts down to size.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Grant Cox

Oops, I'll take this one. Sometimes we copy and paste notes from one page to the next... sometimes we forget to change product names..

Pancake cylinders are not included in either the Ball Shifter or WCP DS kits. You can grab a spare cylinder from the pneumatics page if needed.

Can you recommend appropriate FRC-legal fittings for this cylinder? An SMC part number would suffice for me.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

Can you recommend appropriate FRC-legal fittings for this cylinder? An SMC part number would suffice for me.

Any fitting with a #10-32 thread pretty much. Mcmaster has a bunch, so does automationdirect.

[Paul Copioli]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

Can you recommend appropriate FRC-legal fittings for this cylinder? An SMC part number would suffice for me.

Travis,

The following is a kit with 2 straights and 2 elbows. This kit is included with all versions of the Ball Shifter.
http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/ge.../217-2907.html

Paul

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

All of us at VEX are distraught about the product availability timing this year for VEXpro. Some things were definitely out of our control, but most were completely within our control.

We made forecasting and planning decisions based on last year and based on how useful we thought each product was going to be (btw, not at all knowing what the game is ahead of time) for the upcoming season. We got way too many things wrong this year, but I can promise these two things: (1) We will do whatever we can to make it right this season and (2) we WILL be much, much better next year.
Paul

Paul,
I hope that one day soon, the stakeholders of the GDC and FIRST will unveil more details of the game to suppliers, in order to achieve better forecasting of specific parts that might sell more than others.
As with any company, having an excess of inventory isnt always good and bottom line, teams cant get what they need in such a time crucial project for high demand items.

Personally, our biggest issue has always been pneumatic cylinders. Its an expensive item to stock up on in different sizes. Its not like we are the Robonauts that carry 100's of cylinders in their stock bin ready for use.

-Glenn

[ksafin]

For anyone else on the VexPro Team -

After the new shipments come in next week, will you be stocked for the rest of the season? Or will sporadic shipments continue?

I ask because we'll very likely have to order more VersaChassis gussets and channels and I wanted to know if they'll be in stock (and we'll be able to order on-demand) or if we need to order in advance in order to "get in line".

[geomapguy]

VexPro was able to just give us two 18" shafts and adjust the total cost very easily.

Thanks VexPro!

[Dr Theta]

Hey Paul, is there any word as to what the lead times might be for the out of stock Dog gears?

[DavisDad]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Just something to be aware of - hex stock from sources other than VexPro tend to run oversized. You will probably need to do some machining to get these shafts to fit through bearings and even some broached parts...

Good point Chris. Always look at the specs on shafts.

Temper 0 (Annealed) <-- machinable
Width 1/2 inches
Width Tolerance +0/-0.004 inches <-- will determine fit to hole
Overall Length 36 inches
Length Tolerance +0.032/-0 inches
Indentation Hardness 83 Rockwell B
Tensile Strength Max 89900 PSI

[Paul Copioli]

Originally Posted by Dr Theta

Hey Paul, is there any word as to what the lead times might be for the out of stock Dog gears?

Derek,

The individual Dog Gears are out of stock because we are holding them for full gearbox orders. As a general rule, when we get into situations where inventory will be tight we will always take individual product out of stock to ensure the gearbox orders can be fulfilled.

So right now, I have no date for you. We are monitoring our inventory consumption daily and will update you when we know more.

Paul

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

Derek,

The individual Dog Gears are out of stock because we are holding them for full gearbox orders. As a general rule, when we get into situations where inventory will be tight we will always take individual product out of stock to ensure the gearbox orders can be fulfilled.

So right now, I have no date for you. We are monitoring our inventory consumption daily and will update you when we know more.

Paul

I placed an order for dog gears on January 9th. Will we receive them, or are we out of luck for a while?