How is that being geared down (or is it)? It looks to me you are using the smaller CIM motors.
Looks like a banebots planetary is in there too? Either way, this whole forklift/lifting system looks gorgeous. I am interested in how exactly it works. Any help?
They are indeed geared down with the banebots planetaries. in addition there is a sprocket and chain drive reduction and the diameter of the drum which houses the cable acts as another form of gearing it down.
I also started a thread in the robot showcase.
are you sure that the whole mechanism will be able to lift 120 pounds? just curious if you’ve tested it on a person or something yet…
not at all sure, but we sure hope!
we tested it with a 120lb team member standing on the forks and it lifted him like it was its job! oh wait, it is it’s job!!!
Keep in mind you really need to lift about 150 lbs+weight of your forklift.
120(robot)+13(battery)+15(bumpers)=148 lb.s
actually when we designed it we were aiming for 150lbs, most of the parts where there is lots of stress are rated for about 300lbs, so we just had to make sure the lift was physically strong enough but after the tests we did i dont see any problems so far.
Is there any sag towards the outer edge of the lift?
nope, stiff as a board as far as I can tell, if so nothing major. It lifts 18in, we wanted to make sure to leave some room for wheels maybe hanging down depending on how we build the platform as well as if there were any sag.
Is there any back drive when power is killed?
It looks like they have a ratchet attached to the drum.
Yep, looks like your right