pic: 254/968 Gearbox - Destructive Testing Results

[MrForbes]

(first part removed, I think we cleared that up)

Originally Posted by Travis Covington

Also, with regards to cost effectiveness, thats not always true. This project was based around a model of weight being the utmost concern, and cost being forth of fifth down the line. Also, weight can become a cost savings itself. When it costs ~$3,000 to $5,000 per pound (estimate) to send a sattelite into space, that weight savings sometimes can create an economic savings greater than the added cost of manufacturing.

In the real world, cost is a major factor affecting design. The 254/968 robot, and space missions, are notable exceptions. AndyMark sells a lot of transmissions, because they have a very cost effective design.