VEX Robotics Relaunches VEXpro Product Line with over 120 New & Improved Products

[JesseK]

Can't wait to design with them, but tbh we're a bit too cynical on my team to throw everything we've done already away and start with 100% new products across the board. I dunno how a ball-lock transmission even works, for example. (Admittedly, I haven't explored everything on the site yet).

I love the alternative planetary gearboxes. If only someone would make a FRC-legal motor to go along with them...

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Jared341

AWESOME work!

Some questions on the ball-lock 3-stage: how do you envision mounting this? From the CAD it looks like there aren't any remaining holes for face mounting, and the flange on the bottom looks like it will flex.

EDIT: Also, any COF data on the new wheels/tread?

EDIT 2: What is the ratio between the output shaft and the encoder shaft in all three configurations? Arg! So many questions

EDIT 3: (Until I'm directed elsewhere, I'm just going to dump my questions here) Are the broaches on the versahubs all aligned relative to the bolt circle identically? For a 2" wide wheel, it looks like 2 hubs per wheel would be a good idea.

Cannot wait for this season to start...even moreso than before!

Hi Jared,
1. You can mount in a few different ways. The simplest way is to attach the (included) mounting angle to the 3rd-stage face plate using two of its mounting screws. Alternately, one could face-mount this transmission using those same screws. I personally expect many teams will eliminate the output plate entirely, and just integrate that pattern into their drive train. We spent a lot of time talking about how to mount our gearboxes, and believe we've come up with a very versatile solution which should serve inexperienced teams, and also veterans. Our intent is to provide more in-application examples as we build towards kickoff.

2. We will post full CoF data for all wheels and tread in the coming weeks. Our team is redoing all our testing with the final production wheels (using the tilt-test) to ensure we provide the right data to our customers. Everything is in the ranges you'd expect, we know traction is important...

3. On the ball shifter: the encoders turn at 3x the speed of the output shaft using our stock (included) mounting method. On the single-speed, double-reduction the encoders spin at the same speed as the output shaft.

4. Unfortunately no, the VersaKey pattern is not consistently aligned with the hex broaches. Though this was our original intent, it proved cost-prohibitive to achieve.

-John

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kolodziej

Question: What kind of load capacities do the various wheels have (especially the Versawheels and Mecanum wheels)?
v

Hi Kevin,
It is tough to provide a load capacity on something like a wheel. I can tell you that these were designed with FRC applications in mind. They're built to be tough, and survive even the worst of what FRC teams will throw at them.

They're not built to be used as an all-terrain wheel-chair or something... they might work for that, but that isn't their designed usage.

Does that kind of answer your question? Is there a specific value you're interested in?

-John

[Bob Steele]

John
i was going to order some Jaguars and had them in my cart but when I signed in they were gone and I can't find them on the site..
What happened? Can I still order these before Kickoff?
thanks

[Taylor]

It strikes me that the pictures on the vexpro site are (very nice) CAD renderings. What testing, destructive or non, has been done on the physical products? What loads can they support?
I realize Paul alluded that data for the gearboxes will be forthcoming; what about the wheels?

Edit: I missed Kevin's post and just saw JVN's response. So the answer is "it'll be good enough, don't worry about it" ?

[Mk.32]

Originally Posted by JVN

Hi Kevin,
It is tough to provide a load capacity on something like this. I can tell you that these were designed with FRC applications in mind. They're built to be tough, and survive even the worst of what FRC teams will throw at them.

They're not built to be used as an all-terrain wheel-chair or something... they might work for that, but that isn't their designed usage.

Does that kind of answer your question? Is there a specific value you're interested in?

-John

Personally I would like to know the toque ratings for the VersaPlanetary gearboxes, for example banebots rates the p60s at 35 ft-lb.

Looks like some great products, can't wait to see how they work out in the field.

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Edit: I missed Kevin's post and just saw JVN's response. So the answer is "it'll be good enough, don't worry about it" ?

A more accurate summary might be: "Wheel 'rating' is a difficult thing to quantify (in my mind, at least) what numbers would you like to know?"

More easy to quantify numbers (like VersaPlanetary torque ratings and usage recommendations) will be made available before kickoff.

-John

[Ricky Q.]

Originally Posted by Bob Steele

John
i was going to order some Jaguars and had them in my cart but when I signed in they were gone and I can't find them on the site..
What happened? Can I still order these before Kickoff?
thanks

Hi Bob,

You should be able to find the Jaguars on the Motors & Controllers page - http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/motor-controllers

Their direct page is: http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/mo.../217-3367.html

These are available for pre-order right now and will Ship Before Kickoff.

If you have further issues please let us know.

Thanks,
Ricky

[AdamHeard]

It'd be really awesome to get a rough layout drawing in .pdf in each part, similar to what AndyMark and other vendors do. It's a pain to download the .step to check a basic dimension.

I like to think we have one of the best custom 2-speed shifter designs, but we're choosing to put that on the shelf and run the ball shifter most likely. Time is so valuable, and for that price it's awesome.

[Clinton Bolinger]

Vex,

After looking at the Ball Shifter STEP file, it looks like the output shaft can be easily exchanged with any custom length 1/2" Hex shaft. However, I can not tell how the 1/2" Hex Output Shaft is retained in the assembly.

Can you please explain how it is retained or what I am missing?

Thanks and I love the subtle features of the products.
-Clinton-

PS. Do the Gears have the sizes laser engraved on each part, similar to the Sprockets?

[ttldomination]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

And I had just finished putting together my pre-season orders. Back to the drawing board.

I know that feel.

- Sunny G.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by JVN

A more accurate summary might be: "Wheel 'rating' is a difficult thing to quantify (in my mind, at least) what numbers would you like to know?"

More easy to quantify numbers (like VersaPlanetary torque ratings and usage recommendations) will be made available before kickoff.

-John

I think load capacity and CoF data would be reasonable for FRC applications.
I'm confused why they would be hard to quantify - other wheel manufacturers I've researched readily display that data.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Taylor

I think load capacity and CoF data would be good to know for FRC applications.
I'm confused why they would be hard to quantify - other wheel manufacturers I've researched readily display that data.

The wheels are probably a more homogeneous design, solid web, no spokes, etc...

Also, they probably are pulling their rating from testing, not from calculations. I'd wager most ratings you see are very conservatively low as well.

Even if you pull a true strength from testing this rating also has to factor in the uninformed user, if a wheel is rated to hold 100 lbs and that's what it sees when the robot is sitting on it, it will break on any sort of impact or drop due to that increased loading. I bet when you buy a colson wheel rated for 100 lbs, it's probably capable of handling spikes to 500+ lbs.

[jsasaki]

The more I revisit the VexPro website the more I'm impressed. Your prices just seem unreal compared to other sources. Just bearing, sprockets and gears alone cost almost half the price...... 1/2" hex stock is only $8 You guys really set the bar high on this one!!!

[Lil' Lavery]

Agreed with Adam's .pdf request.

Any plans on having 1/2" round (keyed) output shafts on any of the gearboxes in the future? Many teams already have plenty of stock material for 1/2" keyed shaft, so not having to purchase a bunch of hex broached material would be preferable.

Any plans for Versa wheels in sizes other than 4"?

As for "wheel ratings," what about the following?
How much force does it take to separate the tread from the versa wheel rim?
How much shear force can the spokes in each wheel handle before failing?