Is AndyMark the new IFI?

[Manoel]

From Bill Miller's blog:

Good Afternoon Teams,

Kate, our Engineer of the Kit of Parts is hard at work finalizing the contents of this year’s kits. She asked me to tell you that this year, AndyMark will offer some of the FRC specific components of the new control system for sale on their website. The driver station, power distribution board, digital sidecar, pneumatic bumper and analog bumper aren’t available to teams yet, but stay tuned for more details on availability and pricing. We’ll also announce where to find other components as we finalize those arrangements.

120 days until Kickoff! See you then.

Comments: http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=9738

What do you guys think? Shouldn't change much, except we'll be testing their international shipping capabilities.

[Kyle Love]

Originally Posted by Manoel

From Bill Miller's blog:



What do you guys think? Shouldn't change much, except we'll be testing their international shipping capabilities.

I know they can handle the international shipping, they are beasts at that.

I would say the new IFI would be National Instruments, since they actually make the controller. AndyMark can be like a distribution center for some of the stuff, I guess you could say?

[IndySam]

Not a big surprise. Those parts are made by an Indiana company so it makes sense that they be distributed by another Indiana company, especially one that understand our special needs.

[Manoel]

Originally Posted by Kyle Love

AndyMark can be like a distribution center for some of the stuff, I guess you could say?

Yes, that's what I meant - the new IFI as in FIRST's "official" supplier, not control system developer.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Didn't IFI also USED to make a kit-bot (), traction wheels, and transmissions?

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

Didn't IFI also USED to make a kit-bot (), traction wheels, and transmissions?

KOP Traction wheels and both Kit-Bot trans were made by AM.

[Jeff 801]

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

Didn't IFI also USED to make a kit-bot (), traction wheels, and transmissions?

In 2005 and 2006 I am almost certain IFI made the KOP gearboxes if that is what you are talking and about the wheels, in those years they were made by skyway.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Jeff 801

In 2005 and 2006 I am almost certain IFI made the KOP gearboxes if that is what you are talking and about the wheels, in those years they were made by skyway.

I can't find the thread, but it was posted by Paul Copioli and/or Andy Baker that AndyMark made most (maybe all) of the parts for the 2005-2006 KOP gearbox.

[R.C.]

All I want to say that Andy Mark has become one of most reliable vendors in FIRST for Robotics teams. I am pretty sure that almost everyone (teams) has bought Something from AM.

Congrats guys

p.s. watch out for a new tensioner coming out on AM's site

[Arefin Bari]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

I can't find the thread, but it was posted by Paul Copioli and/or Andy Baker that AndyMark made most (maybe all) of the parts for the 2005-2006 KOP gearbox.

I believe it was Paul Copioli who designed the kit chassis and John V. Neun who designed the transmission that was distributed by IFI. Perhaps, one of them can confirm it.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Originally Posted by Jeff 801

In 2005 and 2006 I am almost certain IFI made the KOP gearboxes if that is what you are talking and about the wheels, in those years they were made by skyway.

I was being facetious.

So IFI distributed the chassis and the old tranny and AM manufactured it?

In that case, nothing has really changed (in regards to the mechanics) has it? They just got rid of the middle man.

[Eric O]

Originally Posted by Arefin Bari

I believe it was Paul Copioli who designed the kit chassis and John V. Neun who designed the transmission that was distributed by IFI. Perhaps, one of them can confirm it.

Arefin,

You have that backwards. John designed the kit chassis, Paul designed the transmission. I am not sure who they consulted with when doing the design/testing/supplier selection. IFI did distribute both products, as well as many other KOP items.

-Eric

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Arefin Bari

I believe it was Paul Copioli who designed the kit chassis and John V. Neun who designed the transmission that was distributed by IFI. Perhaps, one of them can confirm it.

As EO mentioned, it was the other way around: John designed the kit chassis and Paul designed the gearbox. John and Paul worked closely on this, assisting each other. Mark and I helped a bit with the gearbox design, and offered to make parts. For the 2005 Kit Gearbox, AndyMark was simply one of the suppliers, as we made 3 of the gears.

-----

As for the 2009 electronics...

AndyMark is happy to be the storefront to provide 4 of the auxiliary control system components. These components are the power distribution (PD) board, the digital sidecar, pneumatic board and analog board. These items will be included in each team's Kit of Parts, but teams can come to the AndyMark site to buy extras.

Diversified Systems is the manufacturer of these electronics items. Technical data provided by Diversified Systems will be available on the AndyMark site within a couple of weeks. These items will be for sale this fall, but not until November, most likely.

Sincerely,
Andy Baker

[JesseK]

Hey Andy, what's this I see about 21" mecanum wheels on the new parts page?! Any particular reason for that size?

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Hey Andy, what's this I see about 21" mecanum wheels on the new parts page?! Any particular reason for that size?

We have customers who are wishing to have larger AndyMark Mecanum wheels. We are developing a 10" and 21" diameter wheel, with drastically increased load capabilities compared to our current versions. (no, these are not for FIRST robots)

However, regarding the electronics...

We now have pictures of in-process products at Diversified Sysetems.

Andy