WCP DS or Vexpro BS?

Originally Posted by Ronnie314

Did you guys use the versa block on both sides or just the ouside? I have heard people talking about bolting the transmission straight through the 1X2 chassis rail and into the outside bearing block. Any thoughts on this?
-Ronnie

It is more common in a tradition West Coast Drive for the transmission plate to be bolted in contact with the 2x1 frame rail on one side with the bearing block on the other. That being said it can be done with a block on both sides if you really want to, but you'll have to have some good reasoning for doing so.

[JesseK]

Hmm, Ronnie are you referring to the Ball Shifter with your question or the WCP shifter?

The WCP products are designed to house the sprockets between the plates
Single Speed Assembly in WCD configuration
Dual Speed Assembly in WCD configuration

The Ball Shifters are completely enclosed, so the sprockets need to be on the outside of the gearbox and also have some spacing away from the chassis rail itself. If you can solve that without an inner bearing block in the rail, then you don't need the inner bearing block.

Generally speaking, a single shaft should only be loaded between 2 precision bearings. The more bearings you add, the more chance the bearings are precisely lined up in their mounting leading to inefficiencies.

The WCP gearboxes use only two bearings on the output shaft - one is on the inner gearbox plate, the other is on the outer bearing block (there is no inner bearing block). Spacers on the hex shaft keep the sprockets in place along the axle. This allows the outer plate of the gearbox to be direct-mounted to the chassis rail as Andrew described.

Thus I believe if you're asking about the Ball Shifter, your question can be reduced to whether or not you can replace the bearing on the output shaft with a spacer, and then move that bearing to the outer bearing block. In theory I see no problems with this, yet I also don't know how the Ball Shifter is mounted.

I only know this because I did some pretty thorough research on the WCP SS gearbox in WCD configuration since it's the only WCD-designed gearbox that VEXPro has in stock at the moment and we want to prototype something this Fall.

[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Hmm, Ronnie are you referring to the Ball Shifter with your question or the WCP shifter?

The WCP products are designed to house the sprockets between the plates
Single Speed Assembly in WCD configuration
Dual Speed Assembly in WCD configuration

The Ball Shifters are completely enclosed, so the sprockets need to be on the outside of the gearbox and also have some spacing away from the chassis rail itself. If you can solve that without an inner bearing block in the rail, then you don't need the inner bearing block.

Generally speaking, a single shaft should only be loaded between 2 precision bearings. The more bearings you add, the more chance the bearings are precisely lined up in their mounting leading to inefficiencies.

The WCP gearboxes use only two bearings on the output shaft - one is on the inner gearbox plate, the other is on the outer bearing block (there is no inner bearing block). Spacers on the hex shaft keep the sprockets in place along the axle. This allows the outer plate of the gearbox to be direct-mounted to the chassis rail as Andrew described.

Thus I believe if you're asking about the Ball Shifter, your question can be reduced to whether or not you can replace the bearing on the output shaft with a spacer, and then move that bearing to the outer bearing block. In theory I see no problems with this, yet I also don't know how the Ball Shifter is mounted.

I only know this because I did some pretty thorough research on the WCP SS gearbox in WCD configuration since it's the only WCD-designed gearbox that VEXPro has in stock at the moment and we want to prototype something this Fall.

My I was wondering how people liked the WCP DS but we used the BS and experienced the sag with them. That being said, we used both bearing blocks. I will be looking at mounting the 3rd stage of BS directly to the 1x2 tonight. I can't remember off the top of my head but I'm going to guess since it has the versa pattern on it, I should be able to directly mount it with only a few holes. That would more than likely greatly help the sag we experienced. Reason for asking about WCP DS was because I would like to use them in a WCD this fall. I also see it as a plus that the chain/belt runs are below the gear assembly instead of the external 3rd stage we had with the ball shifters.

[Mk.32]

Originally Posted by Ronnie314

My I was wondering how people liked the WCP DS but we used the BS and experienced the sag with them. That being said, we used both bearing blocks. I will be looking at mounting the 3rd stage of BS directly to the 1x2 tonight. I can't remember off the top of my head but I'm going to guess since it has the versa pattern on it, I should be able to directly mount it with only a few holes. That would more than likely greatly help the sag we experienced. Reason for asking about WCP DS was because I would like to use them in a WCD this fall. I also see it as a plus that the chain/belt runs are below the gear assembly instead of the external 3rd stage we had with the ball shifters.

If you do a west coast drive with the COTS stuff that WCP/Vex sells (including the WCP DS) you will be very happy. Personally I prefer 25 chain over the 9mm HTD belts (if you look at the Gates Manual and do the math this makes sense).

I haven't seen one but I feel like I show throw up a cad model I have of a COTS WCD. To use the versa rails with the DS it's basic drilling/boring. You need to make precise-ish slots to use the WCP WCD Bearing blocks, or just a big hole if you want to do go with the versa bearing block.

If you are unfamiliar with the nitty gritty details of building a wcd look around on CD and you will find lots of information. As with everything there is a right way to do it, and a wrong way to do it.

[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by Mk.32

If you do a west coast drive with the COTS stuff that WCP/Vex sells (including the WCP DS) you will be very happy. Personally I prefer 25 chain over the 9mm HTD belts (if you look at the Gates Manual and do the math this makes sense).

I haven't seen one but I feel like I show throw up a cad model I have of a COTS WCD. To use the versa rails with the DS it's basic drilling/boring. You need to make precise-ish slots to use the WCP WCD Bearing blocks, or just a big hole if you want to do go with the versa bearing block.

If you are unfamiliar with the nitty gritty details of building a wcd look around on CD and you will find lots of information. As with everything there is a right way to do it, and a wrong way to do it.

We did a WCD last year with the versa blocks and we loved it. I don't know if i'm just not observant or they just posted them but those bearing blocks from WCP are something I didn't see. Hopefully I can get my hands on some to test with this fall. Save money and they aren't as bulky. Thanks!

[Paul Copioli]

Originally Posted by Ronnie314

We did a WCD last year with the versa blocks and we loved it. I don't know if i'm just not observant or they just posted them but those bearing blocks from WCP are something I didn't see. Hopefully I can get my hands on some to test with this fall. Save money and they aren't as bulky. Thanks!

They were on the VEXpro and WCP website all of last season.

http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/we...gblocks-g.html

http://www.wcproducts.net/wcd/

Paul

[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

They were on the VEXpro and WCP website all of last season.

http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/we...gblocks-g.html

http://www.wcproducts.net/wcd/

Paul

I guess I was so happy about the versablock I overlooked them haha

[lamk]

Our white paper on building a belt driven Vexpro VersaChassis with 3 SIM ball shifter may be helpful.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3050