pic: Chain and Wheel in Tube

[AustinSchuh]

Originally Posted by Cash4587

To be quite honest, that doesn't make the machining any easier.. The way my team does it, which is not the best way to do it but is perfectly fine for FRC requires the same amount of machining. In 2014 we were able to do a c-c belt drive train on a manual mill with no issue. It used the same bearing setup as shown in this picture. Either way, it would be a bit on the mill properly spaced the correct distance from the last hole. We use a 1.125" mill bit to drill bearing holes and have had no issue with tolerance thus far, we do not us a CNC.

Sounds like you have a pretty solid way to get the C-C. I'd suggest live axle in that case, since you'll constrain the bearings better. If you go with a dead axle, one of the design considerations is keeping the chain tight. If you tap the end of a shaft, your c-c won't be all that accurate because the clearance around the bolt in the frame adds a lot of play and potential for motion under impacts.

[Cash4587]

We have a mill with a digital read out it's pretty useful. I think the best thing about c-c drivetrains is the fact that you don't have to mill slots for bearing blocks. However, with all of the new vex/wcp parts now pretty widely available, adding tensioning cams to the drivetrain only requires one more hole drilled in the tube. the WCP bearing blocks are huge time savers.

[asid61]

Originally Posted by Cash4587

We have a mill with a digital read out it's pretty useful. I think the best thing about c-c drivetrains is the fact that you don't have to mill slots for bearing blocks. However, with all of the new vex/wcp parts now pretty widely available, adding tensioning cams to the drivetrain only requires one more hole drilled in the tube. the WCP bearing blocks are huge time savers.

PREACH! The slots for a WCD are the worst part, and due to the inexperience of student machinist there are usually errors every year (except this one!) so going C-C also saves time in my opinion.