pic: 114: How we roll

Originally Posted by JoelP

Single bolt tensioner system? Sounds interesting, how'd you do that?

Our outer shafts are mounted in two bearing blocks inside a milled out pocket in the 2x1 frame bars, and the bearing blocks are linked via a plate on standoffs. From a plate at the front of the drivetrain, a bolt goes back to the linking plate, and can be tightened to pull the chain. Look here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/27585
You can kinda see the tensioner at the bottom corner.

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Just curious, why did you chose to go to dead axles? (or so it appears).

The axles are live, with an eighth inch key in them. They sit in bearing blocks that are pulled to tension the sytem.

Originally Posted by CrosbyAR

where did you get that blue nitrile tread?

McMaster. It's blue nitrile, food grade conveyor. We love the stuff.

Originally Posted by Rich Ross

Any chance on a paper with the gearbox? Nice job on a sweet drive.

I'm not too good at making papers. However, these transmissions may soon be sold from Trossen Robotics, in a partnership with Outback Manufacturing. Keep an eye out.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by 114ManualLabor

McMaster. It's blue nitrile, food grade conveyor. We love the stuff.

It's actually not, just on the same page as the food grade conveyors. The nitrile is incline belting.

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

It's actually not, just on the same page as the food grade conveyors. The nitrile is incline belting.

Bah, same difference. We love INCLINE BELTING then...

But yeah, it only slightly wore down, and only on the middle wheels. I have a feeling the wear was because of our ability to score extremely well, and so we were targeted with heavy defense the whole time...

[=Martin=Taylor=]

How often did you use high gear?

[Otaku]

Having 114 on our Alliance at Davis was awesome, though. 675 (us) and 2159 (Robopirates) played Defense while Eaglestrike had fun with the rack.

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

How often did you use high gear?

Our driver didn't use it nearly as much as he could have. However, there were a couple notable sprints where it came in handy. I'm working on an idea to make the driver take advantage of it more next year.

[JoelP]

Just a few more questions,
Whats the weight of the gearbox alone?
Whats the weight of the entire drive base (including wheels, chain, gearboxes, motors, electronics)?
Why did you choose to go live axle without the benefit of being able to quickly change wheels (your outer side plate looks welded on)?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by JoelP

Just a few more questions,
Whats the weight of the gearbox alone?
Whats the weight of the entire drive base (including wheels, chain, gearboxes, motors, electronics)?
Why did you choose to go live axle without the benefit of being able to quickly change wheels (your outer side plate looks welded on)?

Thanks!

Weight of the gearbox alone: 9 pounds with motors and pneumatics.
Weight of the entire drive base: somewhere around 40 pounds.
We have the ability to pull off that outer bar by undoing 4 bolts (you can't see them in this shot), and then it's simple to pull and swap wheels, gearboxes, and wheel modules. It was really a great system, mostly because I never needed to maintenance it.

[pakratt1991]

I had my doubts as to if you guys could get up on our platforms with your small wheels...
but I must say that in Davis your drive train REALLY proved itself to me. it got right up and your drive team was excellent, only needing a few seconds to do it :-)
Plus, those blue wheels kind of grew on me

[AdamHeard]

is it any coinidence that you, 604, 254 and 968 all chose 4" wheels the same year? I know 254 has talked with 604 about wheels before, have you as well?

Our wheels are done in an entirely different style than 254/968. And we don't really communicate, so no relation. Theirs is a two piece bolt together setup, where ours are a one piece sold object. In the past I've noticed less trouble with our design over the two piece.

[rachal]

1072 would like to say that they like the way 114 rolls

[redbarron]

The four inch wheels are nice. We like em so much we used 8 of them. The one thing I would have changed this year is the tread its done fine on traction but we have had to change them every regional due to them wearing down. But I was just wondering what the speeds of that tranny are. Nice Job too. Good luck

[Gabe]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

is it any coinidence that you, 604, 254 and 968 all chose 4" wheels the same year? I know 254 has talked with 604 about wheels before, have you as well?

Just coincidence. We used 4" wheels this year because it acted like another gear reduction to go in tandem with our custom transmission this year. I would even venture to say that this is the same reason why 114, 254, and 968 had 4" wheels this year.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Gabe

Just coincidence. We used 4" wheels this year because it acted like another gear reduction to go in tandem with our custom transmission this year. I would ever venture to say that this is the same reason why 114, 254, and 968 had 4" wheels this year.

yup... 4" wheels=much smaller initial reduction needed for the same speed=smaller gearbox=less weight.