Team 971 is releasing our CAD files for our robots going back to 2007 (the first year we designed with CAD). You can find our robots and what associated information we have collected about them on our website at:
Agreed. I love seeing world class teams like 118, 1114, 67, and now 971 releasing CAD models. Not only is it something that is great to geek out over, but I think anyone that takes the time to look into these models stands to learn something new about design or CAD in general.
All,
Here’s a direct link to this year’s technical document as well. We will post past year’s technical information as well. You can access the technical information through the CAD model page. We’re in the process of adding all the information from past years.
It is part of our team culture. We have traditionally been a team with some amazing sponsors, and very rudimentary tools in house. We have no choice but to detail everything out, get it right the first time, and get it drawn quickly. Sponsors need detailed models and drawings. Not seen are the detailed drawings of every part on those robots required to get the parts made. This is slowly starting to change as we get better tools in house. We’ve gotten good over the years at spreading the load to speed up design and maintain the high standard needed to succeed. More experienced CADers work with mentors to do the high level design and mechanism design. After that is done, it can be passed on to students at other levels who can draw axles, spacers, and add rivet holes.
The year, for example, we had the robot that we competed with essentially completely drawn, and all the major parts out to sponsors by the end of week 2. We then got 3 week turn on some of the parts, 2 week on others, and spent the last week assembling our robot. Most years, we only get a couple extra machined parts after the big run of parts.
It is best to get to the technical documentation through the download page in the original post by Travis. All of the links will be tested and correct. Individual pages might change.
I just tried opening the 2007 Robot STEP file on a pretty slow computer and it worked for me. What file(s) did you have trouble opening? Does anyone else have this problem?
It’s not center-center spacing. From what I can see, there’s a Cam (which looks like a bearing attached with a hex nut) used to adjust the tension of the belt.
I uploaded a thread in the CD media that shows the sketch we used for our shooter gearbox (it is the same principle, just a cleaner example of it). The picture is accompanied with a description. Please let us know if you have any further questions about this.
Also, for note, we are not entirely pleased with our tensioner slot method. We have found that once you tighten down the bolt, even with a fat washer, the material gets swagged into the slot, and the blot doesn’t slide freely the next time. This could be improved with more clearance (in hind sight the .252 clearance was un-necessarily close) coupled with possibly a different clamping method. We will see what we decide to do next season.
So I was looking at your gearbox and I’m a little confused as to how the CIM motor shaft extension is held on. Is is press fit onto the CIM motor or is keyed?