Spacer Help- or something better?

[hhoffmann]

Hey everyone, we are modifying our cascade to use a single central large spacer instead of small ones on each side. The design is solid, but we are struggling to source a spacer with the exact dimensions required. Required Dimensions: Height: 0.5" ID: 0.17" (Clears a #8 or M4 screw) OD: **0.70" (**This is the tricky part, as it really must be: 0.68" - 0.72") McMaster-Carr only seem to stock 5/8" (0.625") or 3/4" (0.75") OD, which will not work for this setup. Does anyone know of a supplier or specific link where we can find a spacer with these dimensions? If this is too custom, what alternative design or approaches would you recommend?

[DiscobobulatedFrog]

I suggest getting the 0.75 ones and sand it down with a file/ sandpaper with a drill.

[Missing-Part]

I brought up something similar in another topic.

Cascade spacers

[VEX Override Cascade Lift #vex #vexrobotics #robotics #override] This Youtube Short shows it well. You will have have to get some kind of 3rd party spacer. I sadly don’t know any of the specifics for the dimensions of the spacers you will need, but I assume that they are similar in dimensions to the spacers used in the V2 Claw? Don’t quote me on that. If you need or want another solution, I found that 4 post hexnut retainers can do something similar to the video above. If you need…

@hhoffmann

Hey everyone, we are modifying our cascade to use a single central large spacer instead of small ones on each side. The design is solid, but we are struggling to source a spacer with the exact dimensions required.

Yeah, trying to get this specific size while making sure it is VEX legal is going to make things WAY harder for you than they should be, at least I would think so. My suggestion would be to either use the thin spacers, since there is more widely available, or to use 4 post hexnut retainers, which can produce a very similar result to what you are trying to get in your CAD screenshot. Considering the route your design is going in, I would suggest trying the 4 post hexnut retainers out and see how you like them. Good luck out there!

[hhoffmann]

Thanks everyone for the replies! Tbh, ive been playing around more, and I think i’ll just se the thin spacers, they work well enough for what we need!