drive train

[Ari Allyn-Feuer]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

If you're expecting teams to order now so that you're able to provide these units "early" in the build season, you are not in compliance with the 2006 rules regarding what constitutes a vendor. The rules require that you ship your product no more than five days after receiving an order. Unless the rule changes drastically or you take measure to stock belts, teams cannot use a drive purchased from your team on a competition robot.

Can you explain more about the mechanism your team has in place to comply with FIRST's rules defining what a vendor is?

The lead time has nothing to do with Outback. Breco-Flex, one of three official FIRST suppliers cooperating on this, has a manufacturing lead time of 3 to 4 weeks. We need to have a sense of who's doing this so we can get the first production run from Breco-Flex in their pipeline in time to deliver the system early in the season.

These kind of delays are not an unfamiliar prospect to FIRST teams or any other intercorporate purchasing arrangement, and the rules from 2006 (And, it is safe to assume, 2007) allow for the delays inherent in this kind of thing. Would you say Breco-Flex is not a Vendor?

What we're trying to do is simplify the insane free-for-all of custom ordering from Breco-Flex that goes on. To make it easier for Breco-Flex by using a single size, and to make it easier for the teams by reducing the lead time by keeping the tracks in stock.

Outback is an established manufacturing shop with all the requisite tax numbers, and the delays are the result of a third-party supplier which is an official FIRST supplier. We don't anticipate any rules issues.

Thanks,
Ari.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Ari Allyn-Feuer

Outback is an established manufacturing shop with all the requisite tax numbers, and the delays are the result of a third-party supplier which is an official FIRST supplier. We don't anticipate any rules issues.

And these systems would count as COTS parts, right? If they don't, then you should really be gauging interest, not ordering.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Ari Allyn-Feuer

The lead time has nothing to do with Outback. Breco-Flex, one of three official FIRST suppliers cooperating on this, has a manufacturing lead time of 3 to 4 weeks. We need to have a sense of who's doing this so we can get the first production run from Breco-Flex in their pipeline in time to deliver the system early in the season.

These kind of delays are not an unfamiliar prospect to FIRST teams or any other intercorporate purchasing arrangement, and the rules from 2006 (And, it is safe to assume, 2007) allow for the delays inherent in this kind of thing. Would you say Breco-Flex is not a Vendor?

What we're trying to do is simplify the insane free-for-all of custom ordering from Breco-Flex that goes on. To make it easier for Breco-Flex by using a single size, and to make it easier for the teams by reducing the lead time by keeping the tracks in stock.

Outback is an established manufacturing shop with all the requisite tax numbers, and the delays are the result of a third-party supplier which is an official FIRST supplier. We don't anticipate any rules issues.

Thanks,
Ari.

I think this highlights some interesting issues that I'd like to continue discussing, so I'm going to begin a new thread in the General Forum to address those concerns so as to avoid derailing the continuing valuable discussion about drive trains.

[Adama]

Team 2199 as of now is not interested in buying anyones drive train although we appreciate the offer and admire your entrupenuerial spirit. I was just looking for some guiding princilples and ideas. Right now (unless this years comp throws a monkey wrench in our plans) we are looking at a six wheel drive. We are a rookie team but the officers are all veterens from another team so we have have a bunch of rookies under veteren leadership.

agian, many thanks

[Ari Allyn-Feuer]

Originally Posted by Adama

Team 2199 as of now is not interested in buying anyones drive train although we appreciate the offer and admire your entrupenuerial spirit. I was just looking for some guiding princilples and ideas. Right now (unless this years comp throws a monkey wrench in our plans) we are looking at a six wheel drive. We are a rookie team but the officers are all veterens from another team so we have have a bunch of rookies under veteren leadership.

agian, many thanks

I understand fully. It's not a thing everyone will want to do.

I'm glad you gave it a thought, and I hope we'll see you on the field in a few months. If you have any questions drop me a line.

Ari.

[BanksKid]

This is crucial to your success
1: Measure 3 times, cut once
2: Make absolutely sure beyond all reasonable doubt that everything is perfectly aligned in all dimensions.

Your success depends on it.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Ari Allyn-Feuer

Breco-Flex, one of three official FIRST suppliers cooperating on this,...

Actually, to be precise, no they are not. There are only five organizations that have been sanctioned by FIRST as "official suppliers" for FRC. These companies are not included in that set.

Originally Posted by Ari Allyn-Feuer

I understand fully. It's not a thing everyone will want to do.

Until the rules for the 2007 FRC challenge are released and everyone has a chance to read and understand the requirements, constraints, and limitations specified for the 2007 game, I think that that this is something that NO ONE will want to do. Teams do not yet know what may be included in the 2007 rules that may constrain sources for additional (non-KOP) parts, limit purchased components to a given level of complexity, restrict the cost or size of additional elements, proscribe the permissibility of pre-ordering parts and components, or define the timing under which materials for the competition robots may be purchased. It would be a shame if a team were to commit a significant portion of a limited budget on a component pre-ordered before the 2007 kick-off, only to find once they read the rules that the component was not permitted in the 2007 FRC competition.

Just a word to the wise...

-dave

[Dick Linn]

As far as a drivetrain, keep it simple and to the point. What is the goal and the game? 2 wheel drive with skids is highly maneuverable, 4 wheel drive will do it in most cases. Tank treads and 6 wheel drive are Ok if you can do it, but do you need it? My advice is to keep it simple and reliable. Think in terms of maneuverability and traction and always remember the game.

[lukevanoort]

The Drivetrain Improvements white paper from IFI is an excellent read, as are all the white papers at IFI's page about the kitbot. (I especially like the one about the chassis design process) Anyway, the "Drivetrain Improvements" whitepaper essentially compiles and distills a lot of drivetrain advice and knowledge into 10 succinct pages. (With lots of diagrams) Many of the whitepapers on Chief Delphi go into greater depth, and have many other, more radical, designs, but this one goes through lots of simple alterations to the kitbot that can make your robot more competitive. From personal experience, I can say that a kitbot with 6WD and tread added to the wheels makes a very nice and competitive drivetrain, and only requires 2 additional KOP wheels, sprockets, and 4 more hubs. (Although, if you're like us and spend $160 on sprockets it could get a tad pricey)

[nuggetsyl]

I think the best drive train you can have is 3 wheels. weight is everything. Have one up front and 2 in the back.

[Adama]

Does anyone know what size chain and sprockets have been in the KOP for the past 2 years? Our team is looking at ordering some general stuff ahead of time ( some aluminum stock, sprokets, chain, etc) and we are willing to take the risk of ordering unnecessary parts and a minor hit in the purse if it could keep us from having to wait two weeks into build season for crucial drivetrain parts.

[Billfred]

Chain's been #35 for as long as I remember. The sprockets have been 21T on the transmission and 28t on the wheels. You can get any and all of these parts off of IFI's site, or go to a site like McMaster-Carr or MSC for more selection.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Adama

Does anyone know what size chain and sprockets have been in the KOP for the past 2 years? Our team is looking at ordering some general stuff ahead of time ( some aluminum stock, sprokets, chain, etc) and we are willing to take the risk of ordering unnecessary parts and a minor hit in the purse if it could keep us from having to wait two weeks into build season for crucial drivetrain parts.

If you're ordering from one of the major suppliers like McMaster, Motion Industries, MSC, SDP-SI, etc they should all be able to get you your order in less than a week, on standard shipping.

[Dick Linn]

Originally Posted by Adama

Does anyone know what size chain and sprockets have been in the KOP for the past 2 years? Our team is looking at ordering some general stuff ahead of time ( some aluminum stock, sprokets, chain, etc) and we are willing to take the risk of ordering unnecessary parts and a minor hit in the purse if it could keep us from having to wait two weeks into build season for crucial drivetrain parts.

We can get things from MSC delivered next day from PA to VA and only pay ground shipping if we order by mid-afternoon. Your signature says you are in "E-burg", and I have no idea what you mean, so I can't help you on delivery times.

#35 has been the standard the last couple of years. If you have a local Graingers, you can get sprockets and chain readily. As for aluminum stock, see a real metals supplier in your area. They may be billed as a steel supplier, but they should also carry aluminum. It should cost you perhaps less than $3./lb. for tube and strap, $4./lb. for flat plate, depending on alloy, of course.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Dick Linn

We can get things from MSC delivered next day from PA to VA and only pay ground shipping if we order by mid-afternoon. Your signature says you are in "E-burg", and I have no idea what you mean, so I can't help you on delivery times.

#35 has been the standard the last couple of years. If you have a local Graingers, you can get sprockets and chain readily. As for aluminum stock, see a real metals supplier in your area. They may be billed as a steel supplier, but they should also carry aluminum. It should cost you perhaps less than $3./lb. for tube and strap, $4./lb. for flat plate, depending on alloy, of course.

I haven't looked at prices recently -- and I understand that they're rising -- but we've never paid more than $2.50/lb. for aluminum here. Are prices elsewhere typically that much higher?