Practical 3D printed parts

[MrBasse]

Originally Posted by Wzup4021

we would like to use the 3D printer because this is only a mock up. this will not go on the actual robot.

You can download the step file from Andymark to get all of the layout and make any modifications you want and create your .stl file from there to print them. If you leave them thin they will most likely have a lot less stability than their metal counterparts.

[MrBasse]

We printed a wheel to fit inside a roller mechanism that has an opening for 3/8" hex shaft. Added our logo and some FIRST decorations just because we could.

[Fawnhugs]

Our team has 3d printed VEXpro Gussets for our Versaframe. These have proven to be incredibly useful for prototyping and have held together our robot very well. With shortages of materials and unreliable shipping time, the gussets we printed have made a great substitution for the VEXpro ones. Only problem is that the holes are always a little bit too small but drilling them out is no problem.

Here: You can see some of the gussets we have are non 3d printed for extra support but the colored ones we printed on our Makerbot.

[Jon Stratis]

As promised, our winches.

This year's winch utilizes 3D printing pretty heavily - the spool is printed, as is the webbing guide. This let us quickly and easily put everything into a small package for use on the robot.

Last year's winch was all hand-made. First, we had to cut the sides for the spool. Then we had to get them bolted together and into some shaft collars to make them stay in place. Then we had to improvise a guide to try to keep the webbing straight... and it ended up occasionally getting off the spool and all tangled up.

[Chadfrom308]

Originally Posted by eddie12390

Could you upload an example image of the CAD or of a real life example? That sounds like an interesting use of a printer.

The yellow one is last year's and the purple one is this year's new, more beefy, battery handle

We are still working on the printing. We are trying to make it more easy to print

[team222badbrad]

Originally Posted by Chadfrom308

The yellow one is last year's and the purple one is this year's new, more beefy, battery handle

We are still working on the printing. We are trying to make it more easy to print

That's great! I thought of making something similar for our batteries a few weeks ago, but there is no room for them on our robot...

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Chadfrom308

The yellow one is last year's and the purple one is this year's new, more beefy, battery handle

How do you put it on and take it off the battery? If I'm interpreting what I see correctly, it looks like you need a screwdriver (and likely a nontrivial amount of time).

[Chadfrom308]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

How do you put it on and take it off the battery? If I'm interpreting what I see correctly, it looks like you need a screwdriver (and likely a nontrivial amount of time).

Yes, that is correct. Its not to hard to get it on, and it helps save your hand and makes it easier to carry the batter with, let's say, the driver controller

I will try and get the stl Out asap

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by Chadfrom308

Yes, that is correct. Its not to hard to get it on, and it helps save your hand and makes it easier to carry the batter with, let's say, the driver controller

I will try and get the stl Out asap

Meaning it stays attached to the battery at all times, I guess. Very cool.

Also battery-related, I wish I had the 3D model for this.

[Jon Stratis]

Please make sure you note: Per R5, a handle like that is not considered part of your battery assembly, and must be included in your robot weight in all configurations used. Personally, I think it's a great idea to have a good way to carry the battery, but if you leave the handle on the battery when it's in the robot, it becomes difficult for inspectors to handle something like that within the rules as they are written. If that's the intent, I would recommend asking how it should be handled (pun not intended) on the Q&A.

[kuraikou]

This year 4183 has had access to an laser cutter that is housed in the same work space as us, and it has been extremely useful. This year instead of ordering our gussets and waiting for a week before they come in and we decide we need something different, we have been able to make plywood gussets in minutes and immediately attach them. We have our practice bot held together by these plywood gussets.

[wesleyac]

Not very practical (yet!?), but 1678 tested out some 3D printed wheels this off season.
See here.

[thmeans06]

This year, the Battery Mounting Kit http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0477.htm was not included in the KOP and I wanted to print one. Before I spend time measuring it and drawing it in CAD (no CAD file on andymark's site) I wanted to see if anyone else had already created it and would be willing to share? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by thmeans06

This year, the Battery Mounting Kit http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0477.htm was not included in the KOP and I wanted to print one. Before I spend time measuring it and drawing it in CAD (no CAD file on andymark's site) I wanted to see if anyone else had already created it and would be willing to share? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

Also battery-related, I wish I had the 3D model for this.

You can still find this item in the PTC 2013 Ultimate Ascent Kit of Parts.

I converted it to .stl the other day, I'll see if I can find it.

Edit: Here is the .stl file.

[pfreivald]

We made modular, stackable towers for our victors, with integrated pwm clips and zip-tie/strain relief holes.

Just got the first few assembled and thus far we're quite happy with them!