VEXpro 2015 Product line launch

[magnets]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Every single FRC team in the last 10+ years has had at least two 1/4-28 nuts on their robot.

Arguably the most standard FRC fasteners next to a philips head #6-32.

1/4-28's? Where do we use these commonly in FRC? Bimba cylinders are available with this thread, but that's all I can think of for common parts...

[Thad House]

Originally Posted by magnets

1/4-28's? Where do we use these commonly in FRC? Bimba cylinders are available with this thread, but that's all I can think of for common parts...

It's the nuts on the breaker.

[Mike Marandola]

Originally Posted by magnets

1/4-28's? Where do we use these commonly in FRC? Bimba cylinders are available with this thread, but that's all I can think of for common parts...

Main breaker

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I'll take my axles without a hole through them, and my R8-2RS bearings are 1/3 the cost of a "Thunderhex" bearing, and are an industry-standard size. ;-)

The thing about ThunderHex is that while you can buy ThunderHex stock to use with it, you can make any hex shaft a ThunderHex compatible shaft just by turning it down a little on a lathe. You're not locked in to using Vex's shaft.

I'm excited about being able to do stepped shafts in one operation, using round bearings of varying sizes everywhere. Instead of making 1/2 hex, 1/2 round, 7/16 hex combo shafts, you could do 1/2" hex on one side and ThunderHex through the middle to the other side.

The bearings do cost more, yeah, but I'd pay $16 more per robot to avoid having to make stepped shafts, custom 7/16" hex broached sprockets, etc.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by tim-tim

Just a habit of working on aircraft. The robots are vibration machines, so any little advantage to screws backing-out I will take. We have quite a few fastener stores in the area, so access to fine thread fasteners is not an issue.

That being said, we haven't used a 1/4" fastener on the robot in quite sometime - maybe a COTS component that required. We have used #10 rivet nuts in 1/4" holes in the past in the KOP frames.

I have found that Nylock nuts and bolts do not vibrate loose in FRC applications and if there is a situation where a Nylock is not suitable then we use medium strength thread locker. Once I introduced thread locker to the team there have not been any instances were a fastener came loose.

Where to you find rivet nuts that go in a 1/4" hole all the ones I've ever found use the annoying 19/64" bit. Because it is a less than common size we keep it in the kit with the rivet nuts so it is there when we need it.

[asid61]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Every single FRC team in the last 10+ years has had at least two 1/4-28 nuts on their robot.

Arguably the most standard FRC fasteners next to a philips head #6-32.

Whoops. I didn't know that electrical used those.
I stand corrected.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Cool. What about it gives it the added strength? Is it the cross-section geometry? The alloy? The black anodizing?

People have touted the alloy, but the cross-section geometry plays a huge role here as well. The shape of the churro is particularly poor at transmitting torsional loads.

[tim-tim]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Where to you find rivet nuts that go in a 1/4" hole all the ones I've ever found use the annoying 19/64" bit. Because it is a less than common size we keep it in the kit with the rivet nuts so it is there when we need it.

Yes, we have to drill the holes up to 19/64 as well. What I was trying to say is that even though the KOP chassis encourages 1/4" hardware, we still don't use it.

On a side note, it is always nice to keep a drill index on hand for things like this; but we to keep a drill bit or two in the bag with the riv-nut tool.

[dellagd]

Originally Posted by Andrew Lawrence

The Talon SRX and the Victor SP are mostly the same product - they were designed in tandem by CTR and VEX. The only difference is that the Talon SRX is CAN capable, whereas the Victor SP only uses PWM. As a result the Talon SRX is negligibly larger, and costs about $20 more. For those who do not use CAN in their electronics, the Victor SP is probably their best bet, saving them $20 per controller, and for those who do use CAN, the Talon SRX is a godsend compared to the Jaguar, and well worth the money.

EDIT: Michael Hill covers some aspects of the Talon SRX that I had missed earlier in his post right after mine.

Amen. The team's really excited to finally be able to get all we wanted out of CAN* with all those extra features on the Talon now.

*In an actually reliable way

[MrRoboSteve]

Originally Posted by Mr V

I have found that Nylock nuts and bolts do not vibrate loose in FRC applications and if there is a situation where a Nylock is not suitable then we use medium strength thread locker. Once I introduced thread locker to the team there have not been any instances were a fastener came loose.

There's always the situation where a new team member uses the #10 nylock nut on the #8 machine screw. Kind of seems to work, if you don't pay attention to tightening it completely.

[Grant Cox]

Originally Posted by Monochron

Anyone know if we need to do separate orders for the new motor controllers in order to have any other parts delivered on time?

I ask because Andy Mark's site recommends that you put SPs/SRX's in a different order than you would other materials.

Yes, this would be helpful for our sales team as they're processing orders. Thank you for asking.

[ChuckDickerson]

Originally Posted by MrRoboSteve

There's always the situation where a new team member uses the #10 nylock nut on the #8 machine screw. Kind of seems to work, if you don't pay attention to tightening it completely.

One of our students did that back in 2006 with a bunch of the old IFI sheet metal wheels. That didn't work out so well until we figured it out. The sprockets all started falling off.

[Grant Cox]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

Anyone from Vex able to comment on the weight savings of the new Colsons compared to the previous live axle hub assembly teams used last year more specifically on the 4 x 1 1/2 wheels?

Official weights for all of the new VEXpro Colson wheels have been updated on their product page. Thank you for your patience, and sorry for not having those up at the initial launch

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Grant Cox

Yes, this would be helpful for our sales team as they're processing orders. Thank you for asking.

I put in a mixed order. Hopefully it will be OK ???

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by Grant Cox

Yes, this would be helpful for our sales team as they're processing orders. Thank you for asking.

Ah, sorry. I called earlier today and the representative recommended that I put everything in one order. I am perfectly willing to split them, but I think the order is already fully in.