pic: gear boxes

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

Well I guess you figured out that the gearbox casting wasn't designed to take a hammer hit on the side walls. Those side walls were designed as thin as could be cast in order to keep the weight down. Under normal robot operating loads, that should never happen .......

Well, yeah, you're completely right. Something we should all take away from this then...: Never underestimate the um...ability.... of students in small groups.

Though I act like it's not my fault. The knowing are to blame when someone makes a mistake unknowingly.

[alphastryk]

I have to say...if those boxes are that weak...might be good to avoid them entirely. if they randomly break after little use I wonder if FIRST would replace them for you?

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by alphastryk

I have to say...if those boxes are that weak...might be good to avoid them entirely. if they randomly break after little use I wonder if FIRST would replace them for you?

Well, thing is, they don't break randomly. Castings are generally brittle, and a hard strike will crack them. We have spares, and it's not affecting operation.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by alphastryk

I have to say...if those boxes are that weak...might be good to avoid them entirely. if they randomly break after little use I wonder if FIRST would replace them for you?

...or it might be good to avoid doing stupid things like smashing a thin metal casing with a steel hammer...

Just a thought...