The FIRST Gearbox.

[FotoPlasma]

I've been hearing a lot of people (relatively) bad-mouthing the FIRST gearbox (the injection-molded, 90degree, gear enclosure), and I just thought I'd make a thread about it, seeing as how I don't particularly want to drive another thread any farther off-topic than it already is.

As for the FIRST gearbox, there were actually 6 different gear ratios commonly possible. Teams were given two each of 1" and 2" helical gears, which were able to mate at right angles to one another, and could have been swapped, inside of the gearbox itself, to provide either a 2:1 ratio or a 1:2 ratio. You could also order two 1.5" helical gears, for a 1:1 ratio, very easilly, from McMaster-Carr (I'm looking at the catalog page, right now (page 940, on their website)). This combined with the dual speed drill motor transmission allowed for a lot of variability on the part of teams who opt to take advantage of the FIRST gearbox.

I thought the entire gearbox system was great, personally, but sadly, I was one of a small group to be able to hear a small lecture, from Ron Rioux, about the design and fabrication process of the FIRST gearboxes, so perhaps I just have more appreciation for what went into it.

I hope FIRST releases a whitepaper, or another kind of description of how the design and fabrication process actually went. I'm almost sure it would amaze most of you. I just don't think anyone should berate FIRST for the effort they put into such a system, for nothing but the benefit of teams.

No replies necessary, I just wanted to get this posted somewhere for people to read...

[edit]slight spelling[/edit]