One more thing, Ridgid Tool has a similar design in terms of the handle being a clamp on affair. They almost won my "Best Drill for use in a FIRST Robot" Award, but got edged out by 4 factors:
- The distance from the clamp surface to the output shaft was lower on the Dewalt -- Torque = Force X Distance -- lower distance, lower torque on my mounting brackets.
- Three speeds on the Dewalt vs. 2 on the Ridgid Tool drill (more options for ratios without having to bother with changing anything but a setting on a yellow housing).
- The method Dewalt uses for shifting is more reliable than the method that Ridgid (or Bosch for that matter) uses. They planetary rings move axially just like in all the other, but the shifter works by rotating a camming device that is just plain gorgeous in its simplicity and reliability. I don't recommend it, but these babies can be shifted on the fly without the gearbox complaining at all hardly.
- Finally, the Dewalt Service Network is AWESOME -- easy to order parts online, easy to get parts breakdowns, easy to find local dealers, etc. It is like they are designed to be FIRST friendly.
I am not an owner or stockholder of Dewalt, but I cannot say enough good things about them and this product.
I have already started pestering them to get to a FIRST competition (and to sponsor FIRST with drills next year ;-).
If anyone has any inside connections to Dewalt, give them a call and try to get them turned on to FIRST.
Joe J.
What do you do after making a design public? Improve it! What do you do when you give your opponents a weapon? Come up with a better one or a way to beat it! What is Wildstang going to do, you ask? Make their drivetrains better! - EricH [more] 
27-02-2004, 16:21
Similar Threads
Threaded Mode