For next year, I’m designing our drivetrain, and want to know whether or not I should invest my time into a custom one speed gearbox, or an AM SuperShifter instead. I want to run a west coast drive, but I’m unsure if the supershifters will work on that.
It’ll be our first time doing both, so I want some more veteran advice before choosing anything.
Thanks!
There are a few questions that you would have to ask yourself:
-What size wheels?
-Will you have a machine shop available?
-Do you plan on doing prototypes before next season starts?
To cover the few questions above, wheel size is important to know. If you plan on using 4in wheels, you wont have much ground clearance if you use the supershifters. Attached is a picture of the ground clearance if using 4in wheels. Now this all depends on the game. Logomotion or Overdrive I would say this is perfect. But if there is ever a game that you have to climb something (i.e. FIRST Frenzy, Aim High, Rack N’ Roll, Breakaway, and Rebound Rumble) you might have to consider using slightly larger wheels. 5 or 6in wheels work great for this set-up. A great 5in wheel that you can purchase is the Colson Performas. They have a very high coefficient of friction and are very good in low gear. A note about the Colsons. If you plan on running them in a WCD you will need to manufacture your own hubs. Either keyway or hex as they are caster wheels and there is no way to direct drive them.
The question about having a machine shop is for the custom transmissions. If you plan on making custom transmissions you want to make sure that you have the proper machines to do the job. If not, you will have a very difficult time aligning the holes for shafts and bearings. Also, if you don’t have a machine shop, see if a local shop would be willing to sponsor you for next season by donating CNC/Water Jet/ Laser Cutting time. This is what a lot of teams that I know do. It’s a great way for both the team and company to benefit. Custom transmissions are cool, but make sure you are able to completely CAD them up and make them before the season starts. If you have never made custom transmissions before, building them for the first time during build season may be a little bit stressful.
Lastly, the question about pre-building. Like I said above, building custom transmissions for the first time during the heat of the build season is very stressful. I suggest building them before the season starts like you would with any new endeavor that you plan on using.
As for the Supershifters vs. Custom Transmissions. The Supershifters are obviously nice because you can variate your speed depending on whats going on in the game. The only bad thing about them is that you sometimes have to design your drivetrain around them. Custom transmissions are great because they look very cool, if you spend a lot of time into producing them. You can also design them to fit according to your drivetrain. Custom transmissions, in my mind, are a little bit easier for the WCD set-up, but it’s all up to personal preference.
I hope this helps.
-Joe
Thanks!
We want to use 4"-6" wheels, so 5" colosons may work great (I’ve been looking into colosons, would you suggest them over performance wheels?).
We sorta have a machine shop. We have tons of machines where we can make our own stuff, and we’re working on getting a water/laser jet sponsor over the summer, but we don’t have the sponsor right now.
We plan on prototyping like nobody’s ever prototyped before! 256 has a little secret up its sleeve for next fall that so far only the mentors and I know about. The students will be so excited! 
Andrew,
I"m sure if you had some extra time you could come down to our lab and take a look at the transmissions we have been designing and building. You probably could borrow a sample one and get some CAD. With the gears RC has been providing there are some cool possibilities you can design. Single reduction two speed, mini piston.
Send me your email and I’ll send you some pictures of our 2012 transmission.
Roy
They are great!
I have seen many teams use them, but with a dead axle set-up. They only teams that I have seen that have done them in a live axle set-up are 2791s 2012 bot, and 1625s prototype from last year. I would highly suggest them over the performance wheels as they seem to have a little bit better traction. (PM me if you want to know a little secret about them)
Thanks for the advice Roysturr and O’Sancheski! You guys, and your teams, are great role models to me who inspire me to better my team.
I’m already visualizing our robot now! All I need is for FIRST to make a game that won’t involve us opening half our chassis for balls to come in and up, and a flat floor would be preferable. 
But, it can adapt if needed.
I see you are going to SVR. You will see both single and two speed custom transmissions at that event. Ask questions and the teams will tell you about their custom drives. See you there.
Thanks! Will do. And congratulations on yoru Chessapeake victory!
