Lift Peg (Spring) Source?

[Jeff Williams]

Is there someone who has one of these springs from McMaster-Carr who can measure and share how much the spring bends down when a gear is hung at the end with the barb? If we had that value, it might be easier to find an equivalent or simulate the behavior until we can get the real thing.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Ari423

The five regional distribution centers are in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Princeton (NJ).

To add to this; as one of the teams close to the NJ distribution center, one of our mentors stopped in for an order pickup today. They know us, as well as a lot of the local teams - and are excited about Steamworks!

To the point... the lovely man behind the desk let us know that other teams had come in looking for the spring, and not only did they not have it in our distribution center, but that it is currently out of stock in all fifty warehouses that he can see the stock lists for.

So it sounds like this thread of duplicates/acceptable substitutes will be super valuable! As we get ours in (we got the Amazon one) we'll take photos/video of interactions as best we can.

[Whatever]

Originally Posted by Jeff Williams

Is there someone who has one of these springs from McMaster-Carr who can measure and share how much the spring bends down when a gear is hung at the end with the barb? If we had that value, it might be easier to find an equivalent or simulate the behavior until we can get the real thing.

The short answer is zero.

[CCVirginia]

This is 612 - Chantilly, VA.
Identified this as a near alternative:
http://www.centuryspring.com/extension-spring-5518.html
Must order at least 5.
Cost for 5 with shipping would be $79.80.
Any interest in a group order?

[ollien]

Originally Posted by Whatever

The short answer is zero.

What's the long answer?

[Daws00]

Originally Posted by Whatever

The short answer is zero.

I've heard from a few other sources that the spring bends a lot when the gear is on it. Could you elaborate a little bit on this topic? Also was the gear placed in the center hole or on the other openings of gear?

[Whatever]

Originally Posted by Daws00

I've heard from a few other sources that the spring bends a lot when the gear is on it. Could you elaborate a little bit on this topic? Also was the gear placed in the center hole or on the other openings of gear?

Disclaimer - I didn't acquire the spring but I have been assured by a source I trust that it was absolutely the exact spring.

From what I tried, only the 5 spoke holes fit over the hook on the end of the spring. When I put one of those openings over the spring and left the gear at the very end - the spring really did not appear to bend. It may have ever so slightly bent but for all intents and purposes it was zero.

How it behaves after 70 matches of robots slamming gears onto it may be a different story.

[s-neff]

Teams in the East Bay / San Francisco area - I have the McMaster spring on order & can send pieces out when it arrives in ~2 weeks. Shoot me a PM.

Using a 6" long home depot substitute for now, modifying the field piece design to get an extra 3" on the elevator. We'll probably shatter the plywood in the next couple days and I'll have to come up with something new...

[mobius911]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Century Spring 5518 looks like it may be usable. Anyone agree or disagree?

I ordered one of these over the weekend when the McMaster supply looked questionable. Received it a couple days ago. Actual spring length, minus hooks on ends, is only 8". Other than that it's fine (although I don't know the actual spring rate, the size of the wire and the OD are identical to the "spec" spring).

[Brian Peters]

Hi All

McMaster gets this spring from AJ Coil in Indiana 574-353-7174

They will take private orders minimum is $75

You will need the spring specs:

36" long, OD 0.875" wire diameter 0.135"

to get the same spring

15 springs is just over the minimum cost so I recommend that you get local teams together for a single order.

They said they were surprised that McMaster was ordering so many of these but were kind enough to slip my order in the mix.

"some time you just need to ask the right questions"

Good luck with your Airship

Brian 3140 Flagship

[chrisrin]

Another option (also in Indiana) is Myers Spring Company: 574.753.5105

Similar process to what is described above. My friend who owns the company told me there is already a planned run of this spring coming up soon due to demand.

[Big Ideas]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

Century Spring product number C-333 is very similar in diameter (O.D. And wire) and just happens to be 9" long. You'd still have to cut the ends off, but there should be a tonne of these around.

https://www.amazon.ca/Century-Spring.../dp/B000BD6BUE

And I warned the woman I spoke to at Essentra Components to expect a surge of orders. FIRST can have that effect...

Jason

CHECK YOUR SPECS.
A 9" long extension spring is 9" from loop inside to loop inside. So the length after cutting odd the loops will be closer to 7". Also some one should see if there are springs to the OD and WD that are 2x longer that can be cut down.

I hope FIRST is monitoring this thread and getting the idea that they might have spoken with MMC before kickoff, to warn them of the response.

[chrisrin]

Work from my friend at Myers is the springs are 9" long - they probably cut the 36" McM one into four 9" springs. I suspect a bolt is mounted from the back that is the same diameter as the interior diameter of the spring, and the spring is somehow mounted to the bolt on the front, but I could be wrong.

[EricWilliams]

We actually received our spec spring yesterday. I'm not sure if this was just because we were one of the first to order, pure luck, or a sign that McMaster might have pulled some magic strings and got additional inventory in.

We have not cut our spring to length yet, but did manage to get a piece of 3/4" SCH 40 PVC pipe jammed into one end in such a way that we're going to have to invent a clever way to remove it.

I'm offering to do limited testing with the limited resources we do have, assuming we can restore the spring to it's original un-PVC'ed state.

[caffel]

This is an extension spring 9" long with the exact same diameter and wire size. Century item # C-333.
Once you cut off the loops on the end its a little short but just the same stiffness as the one specified.
C Affel, Mentor FRC 423.