pic: Hex Bearings

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Aren_Hill

These guys will be in stock soon (bigger inner race).

Looks like the weight went down very slightly. What else is different? Smaller balls and more of 'em?

[FrankJ]

The bearings get used on drive trains without that kind of failure. It seem the drive train would have a higher loading. I am a little hesitant to blame this on bearing quality. Maybe the shaft is bending or severely misaligned which is torquing the bearing rather than a axial load?

[Nathan Streeter]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

The bearings get used on drive trains without that kind of failure. It seem the drive train would have a higher loading. I am a little hesitant to blame this on bearing quality. Maybe the shaft is bending or severely misaligned which is torquing the bearing rather than a axial load?

I actually disagree... seems like the intake would actually likely have significantly higher impact loads (but probably smaller steady, radial loads).

[JackFisher]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

The bearings get used on drive trains without that kind of failure. It seem the drive train would have a higher loading. I am a little hesitant to blame this on bearing quality. Maybe the shaft is bending or severely misaligned which is torquing the bearing rather than a axial load?

On our drive trains, we have shattered these hex bearings two seasons in a row. Its great that vex has a redesigned option now. The part of the bearing that failed on our drives was the corner where the steel was a bit thin due to the hex.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by JackFisher

On our drive trains, we have shattered these hex bearings two seasons in a row. Its great that vex has a redesigned option now. The part of the bearing that failed on our drives was the corner where the steel was a bit thin due to the hex.

We didn't break any in 2013, we just broke so many this year it seemed like both years!

[RonnieS]

Are the Vexpro V2 hex bearings the same as andymarks HD hex one? There is a fairly significant price difference.
-Ronnie

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by Ronnie314

Are the Vexpro V2 hex bearings the same as andymarks HD hex one? There is a fairly significant price difference.
-Ronnie

I have a feeling they are not.

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

I have a feeling they are not.

Both are improved hex bearings with what seems like similar if not the same improvements. You can look at and compare the new AM Hex HD bearing thanks to Richard Wallace's post here with the new VP Hex bearing V2, found on their website.

If I were to guess I would say the price difference is based off of where the bearing is manufactured. Still, I'd rather just use round bearings.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

I have a feeling they are not.

For reference, the pdf image that I posted in another thread comparing old and new 1/2 inch hex FR8 bearings showed parts from AndyMark. The HD bearing is one that I ordered a couple of weeks ago, while VexPro was out of stock.

By my measurement, the inner race outside diameter of the AndyMark HD bearing is 0.76 inch, which matches the value shown under the heading "Hex Bearing Update" at the bearings page of the VexPro web site.

-----

edit: I see Andrew beat me to one of the points above. To add a technical point, it makes sense that AM and VP would arrive at the same inner race outside diameter for more durable R8 hex bearings. This is because the improvement requires decreasing ball diameter, and bearing balls come in discrete standard diameters. So it is very possible that AM and VP are getting similar bearings from different sources.

The price difference will sort itself out. Markets are wonderful things.

[Brandon_L]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

I have a feeling they are not.

Except for when you order hex bearings on AndyMark and get shipped VexPro hex bearings inside a VexPro package inside an AndyMark package. True story.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Brandon_L

Except for when you order hex bearings on AndyMark and get shipped VexPro hex bearings inside a VexPro package inside an AndyMark package. True story.

I still can't believe that actually happened.

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

I still can't believe that actually happened.

Agreed, where's the trollooollloll?

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

Agreed, where's the trollooollloll?

I'm pretty sure I asked for pictures.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Brandon_L

Except for when you order hex bearings on AndyMark and get shipped VexPro hex bearings inside a VexPro package inside an AndyMark package. True story.

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

I still can't believe that actually happened.

I can believe it, easily. Especially if it happened during FRC build season. Andy and Paul have consistently demonstrated that they will do anything they are able to do (which is a lot, in both cases) to make sure they fill orders. That includes getting the parts from a competitor, when necessary.

FRC teams get parts from competitors all the time, up to and including the finals of MSC, Einstein, and IRI. It happens so often we have come to expect it. Why should AM and VP behave differently? It won't stop them trying to surpass each other when introducing new products.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

I can believe it, easily. Especially if it happened during FRC build season. Andy and Paul have consistently demonstrated that they will do anything they are able to do (which is a lot, in both cases) to make sure they fill orders. That includes getting the parts from a competitor, when necessary.

FRC teams get parts from competitors all the time, up to and including the finals of MSC, Einstein, and IRI. It happens so often we have come to expect it. Why should AM and VP behave differently? It won't stop them trying to surpass each other when introducing new products.

Almost as if there's...co-opertition?