Posted by Fruckmasta.
Student on team #253, MRT, from Mills High School.
Posted on 2/6/2000 12:47 PM MST
Are the sprockets for the drill motor given to the NASA teams this year actually legal for use on the robot?
Thanks
Posted by Daniel.
Coach on team #483, BORG, from Berkeley High School and NASA Ames & UC Berkeley.
Posted on 2/6/2000 1:45 PM MST
In Reply to: NASA Sprockets posted by Fruckmasta on 2/6/2000 12:47 PM MST:
Any sprockets, whether purchased or machined, are legal. So yes, the NASA sprockets are legal. My team actually doesn’t have ours as we plan on veering away from that drive train this year, but you’re making me curious. What’s different about them?
-DL
Posted by Eric Rasmussen.
Engineer from FIRST.
Posted on 2/6/2000 4:48 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: NASA Sprockets posted by Daniel on 2/6/2000 1:45 PM MST:
: Any sprockets, whether purchased or machined, are legal. So yes, the NASA sprockets are legal. My team actually doesn’t have ours as we plan on veering away from that drive train this year, but you’re making me curious. What’s different about them?
I think it has something to do with the special Venutian polymers that they are using. I hear they have a kick-■■■ machine shop in Area 51 that can make just about anything.
Posted by Samuel Lindhorst.
Engineer on team #240, Mach Vee, from Jefferson High School and Visteon.
Posted on 2/6/2000 6:32 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: NASA Sprockets posted by Eric Rasmussen on 2/6/2000 4:48 PM MST:
: : Any sprockets, whether purchased or machined, are legal. So yes, the NASA sprockets are legal. My team actually doesn’t have ours as we plan on veering away from that drive train this year, but you’re making me curious. What’s different about them?
: I think it has something to do with the special Venutian polymers that they are using. I hear they have a kick-■■■ machine shop in Area 51 that can make just about anything.
I heard that get it made on the Mother Ship, then teleport it directly to the team. Saves on Fedex charges.
Posted by Dave Lavery.
Engineer on team #116, Aluminum Weasels, from Herndon High School and NASA Headquarters.
Posted on 2/7/2000 10:59 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: NASA Sprockets posted by Eric Rasmussen on 2/6/2000 4:48 PM MST:
Actually, Area 51 belongs to the Air Force, and they won’t let us use it. So all our sprockets are of terrestrial manufacture (just don’t ask me anything about the propulsion system…)
Posted by Nate Smith.
Other on team #66, GM Powertrain/Willow Run HS, from Eastern Michigan University and GM Powertrain.
Posted on 2/9/2000 11:00 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: NASA Sprockets posted by Eric Rasmussen on 2/6/2000 4:48 PM MST:
: I think it has something to do with the special Venutian polymers that they are using. I hear they have a kick-■■■ machine shop in Area 51 that can make just about anything.
Is it just me, or should this part of the thread be moved to the rumor mill? =)
Nate
Posted by Jerry Eckert.
Engineer from Looking for a team in Raleigh, NC sponsored by .
Posted on 2/9/2000 11:37 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: NASA Sprockets posted by Nate Smith on 2/9/2000 11:00 PM MST:
:
: : I think it has something to do with the special Venutian polymers that they are using. I hear they have a kick-■■■ machine shop in Area 51 that can make just about anything.
: Is it just me, or should this part of the thread be moved to the rumor mill? =)
: Nate
It’s just you… :))
Posted by Joe Johnson. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 2/6/2000 2:54 PM MST
In Reply to: NASA Sprockets posted by Fruckmasta on 2/6/2000 12:47 PM MST:
I don’t have my rules with me, but I think that the stuff off the additional hardware list have to be ‘off the shelf.’
So… Depending on whether or not my recollection is correct and whether the sprockets could be considered off the shelf, the sprockets may or may not be legal.
Anybody have a rule book handy?
Joe J.
Posted by Joe Johnson. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 2/6/2000 3:10 PM MST
In Reply to: Any sprockets versus Off the shelf sprockets posted by Joe Johnson on 2/6/2000 2:54 PM MST:
K3. As denoted in the Additional Hardware List there is no restriction on the total quantity
or source of sprockets/pulleys/gears and chain/belt that can appear on your robot.
Each team may purchase from an outside source sprockets, gears and/or pulleys and
additional chain and/or belt, with the following condition:
• These components must be ‘commercially available,’ strictly off-the-shelf only.
No custom or special orders.
Posted by Eric Rasmussen.
Engineer from FIRST.
Posted on 2/6/2000 4:41 PM MST
In Reply to: chapter & verse… posted by Joe Johnson on 2/6/2000 3:10 PM MST:
: K3. As denoted in the Additional Hardware List there is no restriction on the total quantity
: or source of sprockets/pulleys/gears and chain/belt that can appear on your robot.
: Each team may purchase from an outside source sprockets, gears and/or pulleys and
: additional chain and/or belt, with the following condition:
:
: • These components must be ‘commercially available,’ strictly off-the-shelf only.
: No custom or special orders.
That is what was printed in the manual. However, we eliminated that rule and replaced it with Folger’s Crystals… Ahem, I mean a new Rule K3. See Team Update #1.
-Eric
Posted by Joe Johnson. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 2/6/2000 5:34 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: chapter & verse… - not so fast posted by Eric Rasmussen on 2/6/2000 4:41 PM MST:
Eric,
I can’t find the new K1 rule you mentioned.
At least not in update #1.
Anybody with some help out there?
Joe J.
Posted by Samuel Lindhorst.
Engineer on team #240, Mach Vee, from Jefferson High School and Visteon.
Posted on 2/6/2000 6:27 PM MST
In Reply to: Can’t find ‘the NEW K1’ posted by Joe Johnson on 2/6/2000 5:34 PM MST:
: Eric,
: I can’t find the new K1 rule you mentioned.
: At least not in update #1.
: Anybody with some help out there?
: Joe J.
Update #3:
Q68. On page 33 of the Additional Hardware List (Appendix C), it says ‘sprockets, gears and pulleys - any size, any amount.’ Are we allowed to manufacture these sprockets, gears and pulleys to our specific requirements, or do we have to purchase them from stock items?
A68. Per the updated Rule K3 (see Team Update #1 on he FIRST web site), you may now fabricate your own gears, pulleys, and sprockets.
Sam
Posted by Justin Stiltner.
Student on team #388, Epsilon, from Grundy High School and NASA, American Electric Power, Town of Grundy.
Posted on 2/6/2000 7:27 PM MST
In Reply to: It’s here posted by Samuel Lindhorst on 2/6/2000 6:27 PM MST:
What sprokets given to the NASA teams??
my team is sponsored by NASA and to my knowlege we dident recive anytihng other than the standard kit of parts.
Justin Stiltner
Team 388
Posted by Ben Hebert.
Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Gunn High School and Sun Microsystems/NASA Ames/Xerox PARC/Nortel Networks/Scitor/Alan Steel/Madco/Vanderbend.
Posted on 2/6/2000 11:04 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: It’s here posted by Justin Stiltner on 2/6/2000 7:27 PM MST:
Every year, NASA makes sprockets for most of its sponsored teams. You should probably talk to whoever your contact is at NASA, because they’ve already provided them to many teams.
Posted by Justin Stiltner.
Student on team #388, Epsilon, from Grundy High School and NASA, American Electric Power, Town of Grundy.
Posted on 2/7/2000 9:32 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: It’s here posted by Ben Hebert on 2/6/2000 11:04 PM MST:
Ill get right on that
thanks
Justin Stiltner
Posted by Dave Lavery.
Engineer on team #116, Aluminum Weasels, from Herndon High School and NASA Headquarters.
Posted on 2/7/2000 11:02 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: It’s here posted by Justin Stiltner on 2/7/2000 9:32 PM MST:
We need to be very clear here. NASA does NOT provide sprockets for all of the teams that we sponsor. The teams that are working with NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, do collaborate together to a certain extent, and have worked out a process where they have some common design elements for their mobility systems. As part of this process, they utilize the machine shop at NASA-Ames to run off several sets of sprockets, which are fabricated from allowable kit materials. These are the sprockets that are being referred to - and they are only distributed to the teams working directly with NASA-Ames, and not the other NASA- (or non-NASA) sponsored teams.
Unfortunately, I am working with the NASA Headquarters team, so they don’t send a set to me. Drat.
Posted by Justin Stiltner.
Student on team #388, Epsilon, from Grundy High School and NASA, American Electric Power, Town of Grundy.
Posted on 2/8/2000 10:37 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: It’s here posted by Dave Lavery on 2/7/2000 11:02 PM MST:
Oh ok
Justin Stiltner
Team 388
Posted by Joe Johnson. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 2/6/2000 6:33 PM MST
In Reply to: Can’t find ‘the NEW K1’ posted by Joe Johnson on 2/6/2000 5:34 PM MST:
Actually, I mis-typed. I meant a New K3.
Actually, I CAN find a New K3 in update #1 but it doesn’t really impact ordering custom gears & sprockets:
K3. If a part appears on the Additional Hardware List, it does not need to be
purchased from Small Parts, Inc. (SPI) and does not count against the $425 limit
on parts from SPI.
This doesn’t really address ordering non-Off-the-Shelf gears & sprockets.
If NASA made some sprockets from legal kit material (Stuff from Small Parts Inc, Stuff from the green & gray tubs, or stuff from the additional hardware list – which by the way includes off-the-shelf sprockets, of course), then these would be legal.
Perhaps I am missing something, but I think that this is exactly what I wrote in my original reply to this thread.
By the way, what are these sprockets?
I have often thought that a sprocket with a taped hole in the middle (3/8-24 as I recall) that had a hub thickness that was just a bit wider than the length of the drill shaft would be an excellent thing for many rookie teams. They could just screw the sprocket on the shaft and use a washer and the left handed screw from Bosch Service Parts (Bosch Part Number – at least as of 1997 when we purchased these screws – 3603430505) to lock the sprocket to the shaft.
This would probably work well for many teams. There is still the problem of securely mounting the drill housing because this method depends on the drill itself for all the bearings for the drive shaft (not a good idea in my opinion), but this is probably a better method to attach to the drill’s output shaft than most rookie teams come up with so how can I complain?
Enough already 
Joe J.