Programming the planetary (Taiwan) drive

[StephenDsDude]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

All,

In 2002, the FRC team I mentor created what we called a crazy chicken transmission using the principle of rotating the ring gear to change the speed ratio. We actually still have a pending patent application for this design as it applies to dc motors and mobile robotics. In any case, as a teaching tool for my students, I went through all of the engineering mathematics that governs this design and published a paper that can be found here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1361

Upon attempt to import the SolidWorks files into Autodesk Inventor to get a 3D view of the mechanism, I encountered errors. What version of SolidWorks was used to create these models? I am using Inventor Professional 2012. I have an installation of Inventor Professional 2013 installed at home, which I will attempt to use later, but I would like to know what version these models are to know beforehand if it is simply a version issue or simply won't work, period.

Thanks!

[Paul Copioli]

I think it was SW 2002. There should also be STEP files that should work. I will try to bring them in to a newer version of SW and export to Inventor.

[StephenDsDude]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

I think it was SW 2002. There should also be STEP files that should work. I will try to bring them in to a newer version of SW and export to Inventor.

I actually noticed the STEP file today, which opened fine in Inventor, though there were no physical gear teeth in the file. Do the SW files' gears have textured teeth that would export differently to Inventor? If it doesn't work out, then the STEP file would work just as well.

Thanks!

(sorry for getting a bit off-topic, jpearman)

[jpearman]

Originally Posted by StephenDsDude

I actually noticed the STEP file today, which opened fine in Inventor, though there were no physical gear teeth in the file. Do the SW files' gears have textured teeth that would export differently to Inventor? If it doesn't work out, then the STEP file would work just as well.

Thanks!

For those who just want to view Paul's design, you can open the solidworks assembly in eDrawings, a free 3D viewer for PC, Mac and iPad.

(sorry for getting a bit off-topic, jpearman)

No problem, it's all very relevant.

[jpearman]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

In 2002, the FRC team I mentor created what we called a crazy chicken transmission using the principle of rotating the ring gear to change the speed ratio. We actually still have a pending patent application for this design as it applies to dc motors and mobile robotics. In any case, as a teaching tool for my students, I went through all of the engineering mathematics that governs this design and published a paper that can be found here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1361

There's another patent here that would probably be infringing on yours had the patent been granted, same basic principle.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=gwP...page&q&f=false

[Paul Copioli]

Well since we went public with our design, I can tell you that at least claim 1 of the patent you referenced could be defeated since it has been public knowledge since 2002. That still looks like an application and has not been awarded. I am sure they will run into the same obstacles we did when trying to get the patent approved.