pic: LEGO Vernier Gearbox



This shifto-on-the-fly gearbox works like a Vernier scale. The upper axle (the one with the widely spaced gears) slides back and forth, and only 1 pair or gears touches at any time.

All rite! 3 speed, Nice Job Man

i Hope im the Inspiration to this

Ive built 3-speed before but I had problems with getting the Rcx to stop on the gears, mabie i should try again with my new rotation sensor

Why do you need a shifter for lego league? You don’t need to push and load or any other robot, so high gear will work fine. It is not worth the motor or whatever actuator you are using to shift, as you could use it for an arm or something.

What is shift-on-the-fly about it? The fact that the gears will mesh because they are plastic? It actually wouldn’t shift unless the robot is moving.

If you are just building this for the heck of building building it, then thats awsome, and you should ignore this rant.

Kevin: Nobody ever said it was for Lego League.

Lego’s are a kids toy with so much potential for adults to use. There are designs that can be made and used with Lego’s that can’t be used well in real life, or real life things that can be converted into Lego things. Such as this picture. None of us (I assume) have seen this design, done with lego’s until now. That’s what makes it so cool.

Something new and interesting, being made from a toy.

*Originally posted by Gadget470 *
**Lego’s are a kids toy **

You speak lies!!
Lies I say!

Wetzel

It’s not for the LEGO competition; I just built it out of LEGO cause it’s a lot easier than using real metal and stuff.

*Originally posted by Kevin A *
**Why do you need a shifter for lego league? You don’t need to push and load or any other robot, so high gear will work fine. It is not worth the motor or whatever actuator you are using to shift, as you could use it for an arm or something.

What is shift-on-the-fly about it? The fact that the gears will mesh because they are plastic? It actually wouldn’t shift unless the robot is moving.

If you are just building this for the heck of building building it, then thats awsome, and you should ignore this rant. **

Theres always Somone who Just LOVES to stomp on wikid cool ideas and things, I bet you never/Can’t Drive a stick can you? The mission mars Is I think a very usefull place for a Shiftable Gearbox, i maen getting to the tasks quickly and then Shifting down to get the toutque you need to complete your tasks and then shifting up again to get back to the base to get started on another task is And will be a distinct advantage

*Originally posted by Tytus Gerrish *
**Theres always Somone who Just LOVES to stomp on wikid cool ideas and things, I bet you never/Can’t Drive a stick can you? The mission mars Is I think a very usefull place for a Shiftable Gearbox, i maen getting to the tasks quickly and then Shifting down to get the toutque you need to complete your tasks and then shifting up again to get back to the base to get started on another task is And will be a distinct advantage **

You don’t really need a huge amount of torque for most of the tasks. The only one I can think of that requires much at all is going over the crater, and that is just as much an issue of drive base design and wheels as it is torque. You can very easily find a nice gear ratio that allows you enough speed and torque without wasting a motor shifting gears.

If you are just building this for the heck of building building it, then thats awsome, and you should ignore this rant

Like I said, if you are just building it for the heck of it, then that is awsome!

I don’t want to start anything here, its just that Im doing Lego League twice a week, and thats where my mind is at with legos.

That is truly an awsome design. I have made something very similar to that myself.

Now I will challenge you: Using two gearboxes very similar to that, make a swerve/crab drive 3 speed lego robot. I had one mechanically made, but not programmed.

edit: I have known how to drive a stick since I was 14. I have done alot of work with cars, legos and anything mechanical. Just because I don’t put up pictures of everything I do, doesn’t mean I didn’t do it. I am sorry to “shoot down” any ideas.

I just orderd the turntables Its going to be a reality soon