What is this thing?

[btcshields6]

Does anyone know what this motor is? Does anyone have a datasheet for it?

[JamesCH95]

Looks like a seat motor.

[SenorZ]

Yep, seat motor, but with lead screw?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

Yep, seat motor, but with lead screw?

They had a leadscrew adapter way back in the day. Problem was the durn thing was located a foot away from the motor!

[MoistRobot]

Pehaps this-http://files.andymark.com/2014-12-01...le%20drive.pdf

[Peyton Yeung]

Looks like a FIRST Choice item from last year.

[btcshields6]

Thank you all for your responses! I showed that data sheet to the guy who asked me to research it and he jumped and clapped.

So thanks!

[Ryan_Todd]

As one of the Bosch associates involved in getting the Bosch linear seat motor into the FIRST Choice program for last year, I can testify that the datasheet linked by MoistRobot is in fact the correct one for this motor.

Related links:

• Discussion about its inclusion in FIRST Choice 2015
• Feedback from teams that got to use it

If you're thinking of using that exact motor on an FRC robot this year, however, you're out of luck; motor legality within FIRST is based on widespread availability (as defined by "lots of them being donated for inclusion in the KOP and/or FIRST Choice"), and we were unable to get enough of them out of our factory to be able to bring them back this year.
EDIT: I stand corrected! If you can get your hands on them, go for it.


For this year, we are currently offering a rotary-output worm drive seat motor that was available in much larger quantities. The 2016 Bosch motor has a normal rotational output instead of the linear output of last year's Bosch motor, but we can bring it back next year as long as our post-season survey shows that teams got good use out of it.

[Jimmy Nichols]

Originally Posted by Skywalkar

If you're thinking of using that exact motor on an FRC robot this year, however, you're out of luck; motor legality within FIRST is based on widespread availability (as defined by "lots of them being donated for inclusion in the KOP and FIRST Choice"), and we were unable to get enough of them out of our factory to be able to bring them back this year.

Question, Is the motor commercial available for purchase?

[Ryan_Todd]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Nichols

Question, Is the motor commercial available for purchase?

Unfortunately, no; the reason why we weren't able to place an order for a second year of donations was that the 2015 spindle motor was [EDIT] non-standard and built from the ground up from excess inventory specifically for that purpose. [/EDIT]

---

Here's the closest motor that I could find out of what we're currently producing right now:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...57/product/614
It drops the Hall sensor, but the other characteristics and dimensions are quite similar. You should be able to find it from third-party resellers, scrap yards, and even directly from Bosch (see below) since this motor is used in vehicles built on the GM Alpha platform:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Alpha_platform

While I'm at it, here are a few others like it:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...%20Spindle/357

The public-facing method for purchasing these motors from Bosch is located here:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...m?locale=en_GB

---

I don't personally work in the motors group, however, so there may be easier (or cheaper) ways than what I've found here. Let me contact Kevin (the lead associate in getting these motors available in the first place) and see if he's got any better ideas...

[Jimmy Nichols]

Originally Posted by Skywalkar

Unfortunately, no; the reason why we weren't able to place an order for a second year of donations turned out to be that the 2015 spindle motor was going out of production altogether.

You should be able to find that particular motor from third-party resellers or scrap yards for a while yet, since that motor was most recently used in vehicles built on the GM Alpha platform:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Alpha_platform

---

Here's the closest motor that I could find out of what we're currently producing right now:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...57/product/614
It drops the Hall sensor, but the other characteristics and dimensions are quite similar.

While I'm at it, here are a few others like it:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...%20Spindle/357

The public-facing method for purchasing these motors is located here:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...m?locale=en_GB

---

I don't personally work in the motors group, however, so there may be easier (or cheaper) ways than what I've found here. Let me contact Kevin (the lead associate in getting these motors available in the first place) and see if he's got any better ideas...

I'm not personally interested but per the manual this year:

Originally Posted by Game Manual Section 4

Table 4-1 Select Automotive Motors (Window, Door, Windshield Wiper, Seat, Throttle)

are legal and unlimited.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by Skywalkar

If you're thinking of using that exact motor on an FRC robot this year, however, you're out of luck; motor legality within FIRST is based on widespread availability (as defined by "lots of them being donated for inclusion in the KOP and/or FIRST Choice"), and we were unable to get enough of them out of our factory to be able to bring them back this year.

That hasn't been the rule for a couple years. All automotive motors (that fall into the categories in the manual, seat, door, window, etc) are legal motors. So all the old window motors, or motors got through the old scrap yard donation form thing etc, are all legal if they were unmodified prior to this season. At least that is my interpretation of the rules.

[kprzewodek]

Originally Posted by Skywalkar

Unfortunately, no; the reason why we weren't able to place an order for a second year of donations turned out to be that the 2015 spindle motor was going out of production altogether.

You should be able to find that particular motor from third-party resellers or scrap yards for a while yet, since that motor was most recently used in vehicles built on the GM Alpha platform:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Alpha_platform

---

Here's the closest motor that I could find out of what we're currently producing right now:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...57/product/614
It drops the Hall sensor, but the other characteristics and dimensions are quite similar.

While I'm at it, here are a few others like it:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...%20Spindle/357

The public-facing method for purchasing these motors is located here:
http://www.bosch-ibusiness.com/boaae...m?locale=en_GB

---

I don't personally work in the motors group, however, so there may be easier (or cheaper) ways than what I've found here. Let me contact Kevin (the lead associate in getting these motors available in the first place) and see if he's got any better ideas...

Slight correction....this was actually custom made for the KOP in 2015 using existing parts in NA. Due to there not being much positive feedback (or feedback at all) and high cost we decided to discontinue. Of course we want to find what is most useful to teams so remain open to suggestions.

I actually have around 10 left from last year. I can distribute according to interest but sparingly...just ask for what you need at the moment and be considerate that some may want to use on the robot this year. These types of motors are very common in the seat height/tilt adjustment and steering column adjustment functions so scrap yards are a great place to look.

As Ryan said there is a very similar motor offered on GM alpha vehicles which is basically the same. I'm not so familiar with the purchase as needed options since this just started up but can explore that a bit. Typically these parts are built as required so large stock was usually not kept for general public purchase. Will keep you posted as I hear/explore more.

[Ryan_Todd]

Wow, did I ever need fact-checking!

Thanks everybody for helping to clear that up; I've [EDITED] both of the above posts to avoid distributing misinformation.

[kprzewodek]

Originally Posted by EricH

They had a leadscrew adapter way back in the day. Problem was the durn thing was located a foot away from the motor!

Usually these motors do have that long adapter in seat height adjustment applications where the longer lead screw is used. That's the main reason we had to make a custom part for last years first choice option.