My team is using a choo choo mechanism for our catapult, but we’re encountering issues with the gears bending and slipping, especially since it’s mounted directly over the drive motors. With limited space for additional support, I’m seeking suggestions on how to improve this setup. Any alternative approaches would be greatly appreciated!
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Pictures please. From the front, back, sides, NW corner, etc.
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We cannot help you at all if you do not send photos of your robot/code
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The Pitching In Build Instructions - Fling had a pretty good example. The full build is available on the Vex website. https://content.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/pdf/228-4444-335-Fling-Gen2-Rev1.pdf
Two gears were sandwiched around 2 x 3 supports to keep them aligned.
This was done on opposite sides to hold the whole assembly together.
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Neat, I would say just add some more support for better performance (similar to the one on my youtube channel)
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I’ve seen that you’ve done a lot of extra support on the choo-choo. I’m not sure, but I guess you could try finding more stable gears or reducing the bars on the sides of the mechanism and adding more braces connecting to your drivetrain.
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Regardless of how many gears your stack, the stress point is still on the axle between the 1st gear and the beam. In the examples above with Fling, the first gear is held in place with two beams and the axle. Then the 2nd gear is locked to the first gear with a 2 x 2. This means that the horizontal stress is spread over a 1 inch square area instead of a .015 inch square area.
I am having troubling grasping this concepts as to what the varibles and paramiters of the choo choo build. Since pitching in. The pin that attaches from the gear to the 1x4 beam pops off when the arm flings.
Use a capped pin. If that doesn’t work then put a spacer on the end and it should hold it.
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You would need to add 1x4s or 2x3s en between the gears. If that doesn’t work, I suggest you put 1x4s or 2x3s outside of the mechanism to keep the kear from coming off.