Our team has a NETGEAR 8-Port Switch (GS308), and have found the switch is too large to fit in our robot, although the circuit board in the switch case is far smaller.
Can we remove the small circuit board from the large switch case and 3d-print a smaller case that still fully encloses the circuit board for the switch?
Would a smaller switch do the job?
From a âis it legalâ perspective, I think you will be fine. I believe all systems like that are âcustom circuitsâ which tend to be pretty generous on allowed modifications.
Now from a practically perspectiveâŚa smaller switch is probably wise.
Note, this is all unqualified advice, so best to take it as speculation.
R703 merely mentions that the RIO and radio may be connected " via a network switch". Since a ânetwork switchâ isnât specifically defined, presumably placing the internals of a larger switch into a smaller case without actually changing any circuitry should still leave the resulting device a network switch. R710, which covers control system modifications, specifies the roboRIO and wireless bridge, but does not make mention of a network switch. If the roboRIO ethernet port is still connected to the correct wireless bridge port, and ânetwork switchâ is not interpreted to mean âunmodified, COTS network switchâ, then I donât see any possible rule violations.
The existence of what appears to be a custom device sitting in the middle of an absolutely critical control system pathway may invite additional unwanted inspection scrutiny, however. Network switches are plentiful and fairly cheap. I think you would likely have a better experience, and certainly no worse one, by simply buying a physically smaller switch.
As others have suggested, find a smaller switch. It becomes much easier to damage the switch without the case, not just during competition. If it âburiedâ in your robot, it is more likely to be damaged when being installed or when conductive debris falls on it while you are working on some other part of the robot.
Mmm aluminum shavings! We make sure our control system electronics each get their cup of aluminum a day
âThis is my attempt at humor
Have yâall considered options like the Brainboxes SW-005? Our team recently bought two more of them after trying one out on our summer/fall swerve bot. They play nice with voltages from 5-30v, have a solid screw terminal disconnectable power connector (green bit top right), and have convenient mounting holes
Sounds no different than teams removing a webcams circuit board from its original housing, and printing a new one for easier mounting of the camera and rings lights 
I love that switch and have used it several times. My only wish would be all connections on one side now youâve got to leave room on two sides enough to plug and unplug cables.
Ethernet-wise - this gets the job done (I donât see the need to gig Ethernet on the robot)
Electrically - if your robot is alive, this thing will be alive - the roboRIO (and a bunch else) will have shutdown from low voltage long before this does - the voltage range is perfect for us with no regulation needed.
This is a win-win device in my book too!
This topic was automatically closed 365 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.