Engineering Failure Analysis

[Tom Line]

This is more general, but it is something we dealt with several times during the season.

Do not side load motor output shafts. If you are going to run a drive directly from a motor shaft, support the outside end of the shaft.

We nearly failed 1 window motor (keyang) by sideloading it running our arm. The second one held together throughout the remainder of our matches, but the output shaft on it is bent as well.

Likewise, we tried running a high-speed ballscrew directly off the Mabuchi (spelling?) motor, and that motor's shaft was forced into the motor by 1/4", rendering it inoperable.

Pay very close attention to the direction of load on the motors. Side load is rarely good, axial load is never good. It is a tempting shortcut that isn't worth it.