Archimedes Screw

FIRST General Forum
1

Hey all,

In the mid 90’s PVC archimedes screw assemblies were provided to FIRST teams… Does anybody know where these PVC tubes are available?? Information would be appreciated ASAP…
thank you

Greg

2

Hi Greg,
If it’s the ones I’m thinking of McMaster-Carr.
Have Fun
Geo.

3

If it’s the ones I’m thinking of McMaster-Carr.

Can you tell me what part number it is. I have another project that would benefit greatly from premade archimedes screws.

4

What are we talking about exactly, size wise? A worm-gear size thing, or something with a six inch diameter…

5

Honestly I don’t know now that I think of it. I want something three or four inches in diamter. Of course Im not even sure if we are talking about the same things. He may have meant a lead screw used in actuating something up and down while i meant the actually archimedes screw used to move water about.

6

Sorry for the long reply time,
You are right, I was thinking of the lead screw. dumb me! (late hours and all)
You can make a screw. but I would need a better idea of what you need before suggesting a game plan
Geo.

7

Try this place:

http://www.pic-design.com

We have not bought anything from them but they do have many lead screws in their catalog.

8

Um…one of our team member had an idea like that:
It would be 9 foot lead screw that just lifted the tetras up that even if you figured out how to grab a tetra, you would have to make it implode on itself to fit size recquirements. :eek:
But, then again, maybe I’m just out of it and don’t know what you want with a lead screw. :confused:

-Gary

9

Greg

In the 1994 competition, “Tower Power”, one of the teams made an Archimedes screw out of plastic. There is a pretty good shot of it in the “Tower Power” video. They made the mast out of a triangular formed pastic sheet with a course pastic lead screw inside. I don’t recall one ever being supplied in the KOP.

Mr. Bill

10

Lead screws are also available from www.smallparts.com. Who here remembers when this was the only allowed source of components? (rhetorical question)

11

We were looking at this type of collapse design, if you look at a typical 4 foot aluminum extension ladder, you can get 8 feet easily with a “lead screw” or
a winch and pulley.

If you are set on the lead screw, then look at the next diagram.

I also borrowed a picture from a barrel forklift repair manual.

http://www.morsemfgco.com/opsmanuals/PLBASE%202STAGE.pdf

This shows how to tie 2 lift pieces together and drive 1 while dragging the floater lift up in sync.

It is Your basic forklift, which you could replace the hydraulics (labeled as 31) with a lead screw.

I am sure Morse mfg will just love a thousand web hits on the repair manual page :wink: