AndyMark Stackerbox

[AndyB]

Looking at AndyMark.biz today (LOVE the new organization by the way). And I saw there was a "New Parts" section. Under Gearboxes and Transmissions, it lists underneath the Supershifter, something called a "Stackerbox". To be released January 1st.

Anyone know what this is? I did a quick CD search but found nothing.

Looks we'll be getting some new Hubs and Sprocket sizes as well. I can't wait!

[Chuck Glick]

Could this be the possible answer to all of our prayers that AM is the new kit gearbox?

because of the release date on info it could be possible...

[AndyB]

I don't think it will be the kitbox. Otherwise the targeted release would be the 5th, not the first. But this is VERY intriguing. Maybe it won't even be a box targeted towards drivetrains. We could use a good 6:1 arm gearbox to interface with globe motors...

[David Kelly]

Stackerbox? Although I might get fired for saying this, AndyMark will be selling robots from 2003 that were used in "Stack Attack"

[Madison]

Originally Posted by David Kelly

Stackerbox? Although I might get fired for saying this, AndyMark will be selling robots from 2003 that were used in "Stack Attack"

Does that mean that you'll first be buying robots that were used in 2003? I think we've got a few lying around.

[lukevanoort]

I wonder if it is a single-speed gearbox that stacks like the 2005/6 KOP transmission...

[=Martin=Taylor=]

The name "Stackerbox" indicates to me that this will involve customizable gear ratios (I don't mean shifting).

[ChuckDickerson]

Something like the Tamiya Planetary Gearbox or the MicroMark Planetary but built more ruggedly for the Fisher Price type can motors would be really handy I would think.

[AndyB]

Originally Posted by DeepWater

Something like the Tamiya Planetary Gearbox or the MicroMark Planetary but built more ruggedly for the Fisher Price type can motors would be really handy I would think.

That would pretty much be the coolest thing ever.

[IndySam]

I don't think you will find AM introducing any more planetary boxes, more than likely it's something to combine their single speed trans for manipulators.

[Andy Baker]

You guys are good.

A version of this idea was proposed to me from mentor Mike Koch from team 1720 in Muncie, in mid-November. I took a week or two to make a nice design, then got parts quoted and sourced. We are finishing up the build on a production run of these gearboxes. Mike does not know this, but his team will get a couple of these for free.

(by the way... this is one of the things I LOOOOOOVE about being a small business: you can act quickly on an idea)

It's not a gearbox that will be in the 08 Kit of Parts. Even so, it's a neat-o gearbox. I'll explain:

Gearbox type: spur gear reduction, one stage
Gearbox Size: 5" x 3" x 1" wide
Reduction: 3.57:1 (14 tooth gear driving a 50 tooth gear)
Shafts (input & output, identical): 3/8" dia w/ 3/32 keyway, sticking out 1" from side of gearbox
Gears: 20 dp, 14.5 pa steel gears w/ ~ 3/8" face width

No motor mounts.

To use this gearbox, you would connect something (sprocket, hub, pulley) to the input shaft (3/8" dia) and drive it. You would then get a 3.57:1 reduction out the output shaft.

The cool thing is... and here's where it gets its name... you can stack 2-3-4-5 of these things back to back and keep multiplying a 3.57:1 ratio to your output shaft. These are a large, spur gear version of what Chuck (deepwater) posted above.

And... another thing (and this will take a bit longer), we can vary the reduction inside the gearbox by replacing the two gears with any two of the same dp and pa, as long as the teeth add up to 64. We're working on other ratios, but for now the only one that will be available by the end of the year is the 50:14 ratio.

Yes, Andy B and Scott (indysam).... put two of these on top of each other, and you have a nice reduction for an arm.

I'll post some CAD pics on the site tomorrow. I suppose that we better assign a price to this thing too. Where's that dartboard?

There are many new little parts coming out within the next few weeks. Good find, Burchardt.

Andy Baker

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

You guys are good.

A version of this idea was proposed to me from mentor Mike Koch from team 1720 in Muncie, in mid-November. I took a week or two to make a nice design, then got parts quoted and sourced. We are finishing up the build on a production run of these gearboxes. Mike does not know this, but his team will get a couple of these for free.

(by the way... this is one of the things I LOOOOOOVE about being a small business: you can act quickly on an idea)

It's not a gearbox that will be in the 08 Kit of Parts. Even so, it's a neat-o gearbox. I'll explain:

Gearbox type: spur gear reduction, one stage
Gearbox Size: 5" x 3" x 1" wide
Reduction: 3.57:1 (14 tooth gear driving a 50 tooth gear)
Shafts (input & output, identical): 3/8" dia w/ 3/32 keyway, sticking out 1" from side of gearbox
Gears: 20 dp, 14.5 pa steel gears w/ ~ 3/8" face width

No motor mounts.

To use this gearbox, you would connect something (sprocket, hub, pulley) to the input shaft (3/8" dia) and drive it. You would then get a 3.57:1 reduction out the output shaft.

The cool thing is... and here's where it gets its name... you can stack 2-3-4-5 of these things back to back and keep multiplying a 3.57:1 ratio to your output shaft. These are a large, spur gear version of what Chuck (deepwater) posted above.

And... another thing (and this will take a bit longer), we can vary the reduction inside the gearbox by replacing the two gears with any two of the same dp and pa, as long as the teeth add up to 64. We're working on other ratios, but for now the only one that will be available by the end of the year is the 50:14 ratio.

Yes, Andy B and Scott (indysam).... put two of these on top of each other, and you have a nice reduction for an arm.

I'll post some CAD pics on the site tomorrow. I suppose that we better assign a price to this thing too. Where's that dartboard?

There are many new little parts coming out within the next few weeks. Good find, Burchardt.

Andy Baker

What is the weight on them?

Also, is it housed in 5 x 3 extrusion similar to the single speed/ super shifter?

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

What is the weight on them?

Also, is it housed in 5 x 3 extrusion similar to the single speed/ super shifter?

The extrusion is different, but the same overall width. This gearbox uses smaller screws (#10-32). The extrusion wall thickness is 1/8". The hole pattern is different, and is not meant to match up with the AM Gearbox or Super Shifter. The side plates are 1/4" polycarbonate. It will be light. My guess is that it will be about 1.5 lbs... maybe less.

Due to the speed needed of development combined with the simple design, we did not make a prototype. We went straight to production from CAD. We'll see if this risk turns out well.

Andy

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Due to the speed needed of development combined with the simple design, we did not make a prototype. We went straight to production from CAD. We'll see if this risk turns out well.

Andy

Well, just make sure all the stuff that is supposed to be hard is hardened, and you'll have no problems. Your stuff has always worked great!

This is a great idea... it lets us mount heavy motors down low, and have relatively low tension in the chain/pulley that leads up to the gearbox at the shoulder... or where ever. Just the other day I was looking at worm drives to run a shoulder joint and thinking how helpful an off-the-shelf solution in the right size and weight range would be.

Hmm... about the only thing I'd ask for now is for it to have an encoder or potentiometer mount built into the output shaft, and for an integrated brake mechanism to lock it in place.

Not that we can't take care of those items ourselves, of course.

Jason

[s_forbes]

Since the input gear is the same as the one on the AM singlespeeds, it should be pretty easy to convert one to accept a small CIM. Maybe you could manufacture a simple conversion plate for this...

It's funny, just a couple of weeks ago I was trying to think of the easiest way to remove one of the reductions from the AM singlespeed!