pic: Progress So Far

[Madison]

Originally Posted by bEdhEd

This robot looks very much like what we plan. What are you using to relieve some of the stress on the motors for lifting that pivoting system? I'm assuming you're going to have some scoring mechanism a the end of that, and we all know that heavy objects at the ends of levers can cause torque issues. It seems to me that you are using large torsion springs in the pivots, or am I seeing something else like a spool? I am curious as to how your team will make it easy on the motors. We plan on using gas springs.

Alas, those are not fancy torsion springs -- they're just a stack up of Vex Versahubs. I wasn't comfortable transmitting the load across each arm using only 6 #8 bolts; I am considering using the versakeys in tandem with the bolts to help.

The arm is geared at ~650:1. I may include gas springs as an aid, but haven't gotten that far along yet.

Originally Posted by Dan Petrovic

Are those briefcase latches holding the bumpers in place?

They're similar, yes. They're from McMaster-Carr.