Need some help with a ball launcher

[amateurrobotguy]

How do we actually get from the motor to the wheel? Do we need a gear box->sprocket-->Chain-->nother sprocket-->wheel? How do we make the gearbox aside from using the same thing that are used in our wheels?

[RogerR]

Originally Posted by amateurrobotguy

How do we actually get from the motor to the wheel? Do we need a gear box->sprocket-->Chain-->nother sprocket-->wheel? How do we make the gearbox aside from using the same thing that are used in our wheels?

this will depend on three factors:
desired RPM of the wheel,
size of the wheel,
which motor you're using.

without knowing that info, i (nor anyone else, for that matter) can't tell you what you need to know.

[neo]

chain drive with a cim motor. easy stuffs if you have something to house the wheels.

[sanddrag]

Try using the kit gearbox with only one stage of gearing. And then go sprocket and chain to the kit wheel(s). You can even use the kit frame. You can make a ball shooter fairly simply and fairly effectively using only the parts in the kit.

[dtengineering]

For a single wheel shooter, just mount the CIM directly to a 3/4" shaft with the 8" skyway wheels pressed onto the shaft. You can do this by grinding a flat spot on the CIM drive shaft, then drilling an appropriately sized hole in one end of the 3/4" shaft, and drilling and tapping for a couple of set screws to hold the motor's drive shaft firmly in place.

Add a couple pieces of plywood, with some bearings pressed into them, and you are halfway there.

Direct drive worked great on our prototype.... and we're using it for our final version. Albeit with a FP motor rather than the CIM... those are on our drive train.

Jason

[jimwick]

We've had some luck with direct drive. To connect the motor and wheel use a heavy rubber tube to connect the shafts. This provides isolation, corrects misalignment, usually can transmit enough torque for this application. Fuel line hose is a good option.