If anyone is interested this is a video on how we designed a rack and pinion in inventor for 3d Printing. It is actually a double rack with 2 pinions to grab the piece of plastic 3d printed rack from both sides to avoid bending it and prevent the gear from skipping. In a static test it will easily hold a robot off the floor.
This is part of our other project of 3d Printing an FRC style robot. We have the “B” team continue work on it and if things go well some or all of it will be in this years robot. This is our 2nd “Gear type” project we did after the planetary 3d printed. Currently the planetaries are being mounted to an all plastic 3d printed 32x28 in “skateboard” for drive testing.
Well here is the link to the Rack and pinion video
Please let us know if its too technical or not technical enough. There have been books written on gears and rack and pinions and I tried to give just enough so a student who knows a little inventor can design and print one.