Andymark.biz

[Rich Wong]

Christmas came earlier for one of my teams!
Today they received their AndyMark order in the mail and called me over.

It was like a mini-kickoff, we had box opening ceremony, we clapped, we danced and we rejoice! (ok, ok we got carry away….)

It felt like Christmas!
The students were very happy. They got to see and touch good quality gear that was not homemaded with hand tools. Machining that was professionally done, holes that are straight, workmanship that the school could NOT produce in a million years.

Project ideas were flowing…. It was just like a FRC Kickoff. Their first project…. A school demo robot they can be proud of.
(sorry Andy.... no hot dog wagon this year)

This is how students can be inspired!

[Andy Baker]

We've recently posted entire CAD files of the AM Shifter, at this location.

Our main intent is for a designer to easily incorporate this assembly into their robot design. However, teams can also create their own gearbox from this CAD geometry or create a derivative of this design by improving upon it.

Also, CAD files for the AM Planetary are at this location.

Enjoy,
Andy Baker

[ajlapp]

thanks for getting these files posted......they should be a great help for anyone who wishes to buy or adapt the designs!

is it possible to make the shifter file itemized like the planetary.

when i open the planetary file i have control over each individual component. the shifter file is just one large assembly.

if it can be done that would be awesome. otherwise no big deal.

[Madison]

I was just curious when you were planning to make those 6" wheels available, Andy

[Jeff K.]

I didn't read through the whole thread but I was wondering, do these gearboxes also come with motors that you can choose when you order them, or do you have to supply your own?

[Billfred]

AFAIK, you supply your motors from the kit.

[MikeDubreuil]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

I was just curious when you were planning to make those 6" wheels available, Andy

6" Trick Wheels are available! My team submitted our order about an hour ago

[Andy Baker]

AndyMark update:

I have had many people ask how things are going with this venture.

6" trick wheels, 8" trick wheels, wheel hubs, AM Planetaries, and AM Shifters have all been selling pretty well.

We have been doing a decent job in keeping production and assembly up with orders. Most orders have been shipped out within 1-2 days of being placed. some orders have taken longer to fill, shipping out within 5 days of receiving the order and then taking 2-3 days to get to our customer.

We have had a good range of veterans and new teams buy these products. One team bought 18 - 6" trick wheels, while another only bought 1. One team says that they are going to anodize our housing for the AM Planetary gearbox. Teams are giving us good input about what they like and how we can improve. Everyone has been patient in this new process.

It is quite a thrill.

Andy B.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

AndyMark update:
One team says that they are going to anodize our housing for the AM Planetary gearbox.

Oooh, good idea. That would be really slick.

[Matt Reiland]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

AndyMark update:

I have had many people ask how things are going with this venture.

6" trick wheels, 8" trick wheels, wheel hubs, AM Planetaries, and AM Shifters have all been selling pretty well.

We have been doing a decent job in keeping production and assembly up with orders. Most orders have been shipped out within 1-2 days of being placed. some orders have taken longer to fill, shipping out within 5 days of receiving the order and then taking 2-3 days to get to our customer.

We have had a good range of veterans and new teams buy these products. One team bought 18 - 6" trick wheels, while another only bought 1. One team says that they are going to anodize our housing for the AM Planetary gearbox. Teams are giving us good input about what they like and how we can improve. Everyone has been patient in this new process.

It is quite a thrill.

Andy B.

Great to hear Andy

[Andy Baker]

Another update...


We now have individual trick wheel rollers for sale. In stock, there are EPDM and Acetal rollers. They are priced individually. EPDM rollers are 40 cents each and acetal rollers are 70 cents each.

On a side note, we have seen that the EPDM rollers leave black marks on the carpet. Within 3-4 weeks, we will be getting some white neoprene rollers of the same size and approximately the same durometer as the EPDM. These won't leave messy marks on carpet. These rollers will not be available for delivery until mid-March.

Also, many people have requested that we sell spare pinion gears for our AM Planetary gearbox. These gears are 15 tooth, 32 dp, 20 degree p.a., with 0.125" bore and 0.375" long.

These rollers (EPDM and acetal) and gears are available here.

Thanks to all,
Andy Baker

[tkwetzel]

Andy - Did you know that the trick wheel hub is no longer on the products page? I do not know if this was an error made while adding the new products.

[Andy Baker]

Here are some post-season numbers and facts related to how AndyMark, Inc. performed within the FIRST community:

86 FIRST teams were customers
Teams from 21 States & Provinces bought products (MI was 1st with 11, IN 2nd with 10)
29 out of 30 Regionals had at least 1 team with AndyMark products (the only exception was Israel)
47 teams attending the Championships were AndyMark customers

All orders were sent out in a timely fashion, meeting FIRST's criteria for an "approved vendor".
Many teams thanked us for our efforts.
A couple of teams broke some parts, but had them quickly replaced.

Thanks go out to our customers, supporters, and the FIRST community for making this first year successful for us. We appreciated the lively discussion last summer and fall, along with the support and faith teams had in us during last season. We've learned many lessons and will come back stronger for the 2005-2006 FIRST season.

Sincerely,
Andy Baker

[OZ_341]

Andy:

An awesome product!!! We lost our build facility and 2 mentors this year.

This product was part of an overall strategy which allowed us to stay competitive and remain a 100% student built machine in 2005.

Thanks again for your advice and prompt service this year.

Al Ostrow

[Travis Covington]

AM is doing great things. We really appreciate all the great products you sell. We have talked to a few gear shops and they are simply amazed by the cost you guys are able to produce and sell your products at.