pic: Team 221 LLC. - Wild Swerve Module

[OZ_341]

Any company I ever worked for made very unique designs, which included countless numbers of "off the shelf" components.
Save your efforts for the creative aspects of your system design and don't reinvent components when there is no need to do so.
It makes good engineering sense and good business sense. Its real world and simply the way many engineering departments operate.

As for the educational aspect, you don't lose anything in buying an AndyMark Shifter as long as you discuss with the kids the details of how it works.