Need for Aluminum Gears and Sprockets?

[ChrisH]

For those unfamiliar with the different types of aluminum, 7075 is roughly the same strength as a mild steel (what most sprockets are made of) but is about 1/3rd the density. The density difference between 6061 (AndyMark) and 7075 is negligible. Now is anybody interested?

Team 330 would definitely be interested in hearing more about this. Though we tend to use #35 chain for many applications, and I would really need to run some numbers before considering aluminum for gears. It might be OK for some small gears towards the input of a gearbox.

The hard part would be getting the word out to teams and establishing a reputation.

Most people here know about AndyMark, but Andy and Mark were well known in the FIRST community before they started their current venture. So they had some credibility to start with. Even then, when they introduced their trannys, there were a lot of teams (including 330) that said "lets see what happens to teams that use them this year" before buying AndyMark trannys in following years.

That being said, as much as I like the AndyMark line, it would not hurt to have more suppliers for the ravenous beast that FIRST can become. Just ask anybody who tried to find pipe flange fittings for goals or the right kind of soccer ball in 2002 (yes it did matter and no the one in the KOP was not enough).

Here are some things I would like to see in such a product:

1) Easy interface with the "standard hole pattern" used by AndyMark and IFI on anything big enough to accommodate it. Slight counterbores with matching spacers would be really cool.

2) Hex bores as an option

3) Matching hex shafts with turned down ends.

Given time I can probably think of more

Originally Posted by rc_cola1323

Hello CD,

One of our local sponsors that does CNC Milling and Turning was wondering; is there a need for 7075 drive (hub and hubless) sprockets and aluminum gears? On our last years bot we had him machine out #25 7075 drive sprockets for our robot. So he was wondering if there was a need for aircraft grade sprockets and gears for robotics. He was planning on selling these at an extremely low cost for the season.

Could everyone please leave feedback if this is a good idea or not, and if there is a wide need for this product.

-RC