[FTC]: FRC Window Motor Legal in FTC?

[pilum40]

I read the COTS rules and it says that to be legal, COTS parts have only one degree of freedom. I want to try using a power window motor from FRC to lift and retract our capping mechanism. It's smoother than most FTC motors. All it does is goes up and then goes down when polarity is reversed. I'm not an engineer, just a teacher. Any help would be appreciated. I just don't care for the "string and extender style mechanisms but time is not on our side.

Thanks for the help!

Steve Miller
Team 10756

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by pilum40

I read the COTS rules and it says that to be legal, COTS parts have only one degree of freedom. I want to try using a power window motor from FRC to lift and retract our capping mechanism. It's smoother than most FTC motors. All it does is goes up and then goes down when polarity is reversed. I'm not an engineer, just a teacher. Any help would be appreciated. I just don't care for the "string and extender style mechanisms but time is not on our side.

Thanks for the help!

Steve Miller
Team 10756

I'd advise you to read rule RE09 in Part 1 of the FTC manual, which prescribes legal motors. (The window motor isn't on the list.)

What makes it smoother for the lift?

[pilum40]

The action is smooth as silk

[pilleya]

Unfortunately Window Motors aren't permitted in FTC, some window motors are a fair bit more powerful( thus more current draw) than the NeveRest 550 size motor so the FTC electrical system would probably hate you for using one anyway.

You could try and make some 3D printed parts to change out the Window Motor's motor for a Neverest motor, it is a fairly similar output RPM but will probably have a bit less torque. Probably won't be very easy though.

Alternatively you could use a VersaPlanetary in combination with a NeveRest, allowing you to fine tune the reduction and output speed which should improve the smoothness( gearbox RPM won't really change as the load changes if it is geared correctly).