US Digital Shaft Encoder and VersaChassis Hex Shaft

[Munchskull]

Originally Posted by R.C.

We've reamed some of our own shafts and they've came out a little big, we just put some hot glue in there and were g2g. You can do other tricks to make the hole in the shaft work.

I would like to add a warning about hot glue. Only use it on encoders used for speed sensing, if you need to sense position please use a set screw, press fitting or some other method that assures the shafts is locked down. I realize that the OP has specifically said it is for the drive train and thus we can concluded that these are for speed sensing. That said I personally made the mistake of applying that to a hall-effect pot which has lead to some unpleasant failures this year. I hope that no one ever makes the mistake I did.

[Treadus]

We have used hot glue to get a good fit in the VersaChassis hex shaft in the past with great results.

This year we hot glued the encoder in the shaft, but ended up breaking one of our encoders (the shaft seized up). Likely due to shock and shifting alignment on the encoder. You know, catching air over defenses and all.

To echo one of the previous suggestions, I would highly recommend using a helical beam coupling to protect the encoder from shock and so you don't have to stress out too much about alignment. Especially for this game. Since we seized up the one encoder, we've moved to using a helical beam coupling and have had no issues.

[Oblarg]

Originally Posted by Treadus

We have used hot glue to get a good fit in the VersaChassis hex shaft in the past with great results.

This year we hot glued the encoder in the shaft, but ended up breaking one of our encoders (the shaft seized up). Likely due to shock and shifting alignment on the encoder. You know, catching air over defenses and all.

To echo one of the previous suggestions, I would highly recommend using a helical beam coupling to protect the encoder from shock and so you don't have to stress out too much about alignment. Especially for this game. Since we seized up the one encoder, we've moved to using a helical beam coupling and have had no issues.

Surgical tubing and zip ties do this better and far cheaper than a beam coupling. It's one of the best solutions we've shamelessly copied from other teams.

[Sohaib]

Here's a picture of our solution. It's a 3D printed 1/2" hex to 1/4" D-Shaft (the one on the encoder) coupler. We also have the 3D printed mounting brackets. Probably overkill, but we haven't had any issues with the encoder seizing up throughout 12 matches this season, and countless practice hours.

http://i.imgur.com/5u2Yvzb.jpg?1

I can send you the CAD if you want.

(PS. It's the bright orange)