pic: 2011 Drive Prototype

[MWB]

Originally Posted by Cory

We put cross members even when using the "belly pan" design.

For the original poster: How do you intend to manufacture your gears? I'm guessing our 2007 robot was the inspiration for this design based on some of the aspects you've chosen to incorporate. If you've read much about that robot you'll have seen that everyone involved with the robot agrees that it's simply not worth the time and cost to make aluminum gears, for the ~2-2.5 lb weight savings.

Additionally we have moved away from delrin in the past two years. It flexes too much and isn't as durable as aluminum. If you have access to a waterjet it becomes very easy to make pocketed .250" aluminum gearbox plates which will be comparable in weight to .250 delrin but much more rigid. If you have access to a CNC mill, which I assume you do based on your design, it's a little more work, but still fairly simple.



If you intend to make this as a prototype, you should probably understand the basics of how the design actually works. If you're just copying it and drawing it in CAD with no understanding of why things are done the way they are, then what value is that bringing to your team?

Well i just thought that it would be cool to lighten our shifters, then i saw yours and incorporated some of those features into my design.

Delrin is an easier material for us to mill because we do not have access to a vmc yet, just a prototrak machine.

I do understand how the design works, just i did not want to give him wrong information so that i do not confuse him. PM me so that i can explain.