VEX Pro Parts Feedback, 2015

[JesseK]

Now that champs has completed, what were the strengths and areas of improvement for the VEXPro line of COTS products, including WCP? What new products would teams like to see that are in the same core vein as the current VEXPro or WCP products? In what useful or unique ways did you use these products that you wish to share? What nuances or undocumented features did you find with them?

• I really like the WCP clamping bearing blocks + Cams. They went on in no time using a hole saw, and once tuned lasted the entire season with little to no maintenance. They're a bear to get on after powder-coating, but that's a good thing IMO. I plan to come out with a printable encoder mount specifically for this block since we couldn't seem to properly strain relief our encoder wires for them to stay in using the normal WCD methods.
• VEXPro Single Reduction Clamping Gearbox: the King of experimenting with gear ratios in a prototyping environment when combined with a 2nd-stage sprocket reduction. Most intake or lift gearboxes have 2 stages, and this plastic assembly sets up for 2 stages and an encoder very nicely, without needing a chain/belt tensioner. We used it for a lift, but we could have easily used it for a single-speed drive train as well.
• WCP WCD Gearboxes: we experimented with both single and double-speed in the offseason and couldn't be more pleased with how well these work in a WCD setup. It would have been nice to have slower 2-speed options for 6" wheels for the actual season, but we found that we could easily work with what was available. We were very meticulous in initial assembly on the production bot, and only had to perform maintenance on one gearbox one time during the season (the live bearing wanted to come out of the low dog gear, but we re-pressed it using channel-locks and it stayed ... ha).
• Omni Wheels with VersaKey and VersaHub - in a WCD drive setup, we found that we didn't need any bolts to keep the omnis attached to the hubs. The VersaKey matched pattern combined with axle spacers did everything we needed. This was a pleasant discovery.
• BAG Motor - for all of Champs we ran this thing at 80-90% of peak power, and it performed flawlessly. It was put into a brief inadvertent stall once or twice, and still did not burn out. It will be my go-to medium power motor from now on.
• Request: longer belts. The VEXPro belts are very inexpensive 5mm HTD belts, and I'd like to use the 15mm width version for more lifts in the future. Sourcing long belts was tough as many places were out of stock this season. Lifts come in all different lengths, usually with an overlapped portion where two ends of chain/belt meet - so I'd also be happy with purchasing the 15mm belt by the foot/meter.
• Challenge for your Interns: Create a brake mechanism that easily assembles into a gearbox, combines with the Clamping Gearbox, or fits nicely with/on of the other VEXPro products. Bonus points if it fits directly onto a Versaplanetary gearbox or WCP Bearing Block. Holding a game piece steady at a specific height seemed to be a barrier for some teams this season since they didn't realize they needed it until after then entire subsystem was assembled. I never got the chance to redesign ours so it'd take up less space. I'd like to see what you guys came up with.