Whats the big deal with in tube gearing?

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by Dunngeon

It's possible, but you'd have to use 2x2 tubing to get both of the belts to fit into the interior. From what I've read on Delphi, chain in tube is better than belt since chains (rarely) snap and don't stretch over time, eliminating the need for a tensioning system.

While chains do not stretch over time like belts do, they do wear over time, which has a very similar effect. For the most part in my experience neither phenomenon is typically noticeable in a robot during a standard (1-2) event season, but both can be observed on a practice robot with sufficient hours of use. In a high-use demobot, both have a potential to give you issues if you use it long enough.

Both chain in tube and belt in tube have been done successfully in competition-- 1625's Lobster Drive and of course 118's chain in tube come to mind as examples of belt and chain respectively.