I am in junior high and my team’s shooting mechanism on our robot shakes and makes squealing noises when turned on. Does anybody know why this might be happening? If so, then can you let me know how to fix it?
1 Like
Is there a way you can send us a picture of the shooter that will really help of you can’t send a picture you might have to much friction on your gear train
1 Like
Welcome to VEXforum!
It is great you have a design and a build - but it is hard for people to help if we can not see your creation. I would recommend uploading a picture of your current build with sufficient detail to see the mechanisms that are shaking and squealing.
In general, shaking is a sign of off balance mechanism that is vibrating through the structure (squealing probably related). One thing to do is to make sure structure is solid (tighten well to reduce shaking whole robot), make sure you are using bearing flats to make sure things that spin spin freely. It is a good idea to rotate by hand parts of the robot that should spin freely to see if the mechanism is catching on something (like square shafts with square holes - hence the reason to use bearing flats).
Again, here to help - but pictures and description of robot would help a lot!
12 Likes
Squealing is mainly caused by two things. Metal on metal contact or over tightened lock collars. The most common metal on metal contact is lock collars contacting the mounting surface. To fix this simply add washers (if you dont have washers put in a bearing flat). To fix over tightened lock collars losen the collars and bearly push the collar in when you tighten the screw.
I will see if I can upload a picture, but I won’t be able to get it till tomorrow around 3:50. Thank you for being so helpful already.
1 Like
Here are some pictures guys. I hope this helps. I know they aren’t the best quality.
Looks like your shaft collar is rubbing the plate. Also always use c-channel. Plates will bend. Finally, try loosening the standoffs.
3 Likes
Ok first of all, thanks for the pictures, but that’s like a few too many…
Second of all, use c-channels. I cannot emphasise how much better they are than plates. Plates should rarely be used, especially in a flywheel, in your case. C-channels will make it 100x stronger. Plates will just bend and can just generally screw up your build because of how flimsy they are. (I can bend a steel plate in half with my bare hands)
Third, maybe put your top ball bearings on the inside.
Fourth, use a 60 tooth gear instead of that 84 tooth. That is a 7:1 gear ratio, when all is really necessary is a 5:1. Also, the smaller 60T gear will make your mechanism more slimmer.
5 Likes
I just took a look at the pictures again, and you have a couple places where you have metal-on-metal contact. You want to avoid this whenever possible, so either replace those shaft collars that are touching the plate with a spacer, or put a washer between them and the plate.
Ok, Thanks for your help. I will try to do what you suggest.
1 Like