Spring Loaded Cube Holder?

VEX Robotics Competition Discussion VRC > Tower Takeover (19/20)
#1

Just an idea I came up with today, would a spring loaded cube container work? I’m thinking that this system would be mostly passive. The intake portion would be some passive mechanism. So when you want to deposit your stack, there is another mechanism on the bottom of the intake that when it is activated by bumping into one of the scoring area barriers, it just pushes the whole stack down into the zone. Realistically, this would more than likely be done with rubberbands that pull down on the stack instead of a spring but you get the idea. This idea mostly comes from the Nerf Rival Ball Magazine. You are able to pull a piece of plastic and all of the balls shoot out.

3 Likes
#2

It may be possible and saves motors , but the first thing that comes to mind is how easy it would be for other team to bump the trigger and release the cubes. Overall, its a good concept but probably hard to implement effectively.

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#3

This “switch” would be less than 1 inch off the ground so it would be very difficult for another team to interact with.

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#4

Fair enough. What is the orientation of the tray, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal and how would it intake?

#5

I was thinking vertical on a DR6B. The lift is still questionable. The intake would be some passive mechanism. Pushing the intake down a cube would intake it.

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#6

Is the passive mechanism anything like the one in @Codec’s 3rd design?

#7

Based off of it, yes.

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#8

Just so you know, you can’t really use springs in vex so you’ll likely have to substitute it with rubber bands.

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#9

I know that, I put it in my original post.

#10

oops, sorry i guess i missed it

#11

There are springs in both the old green clutches for the 3-wire motors (276-1098, discontinued) and in the old claw assembly, actually.

4 Likes
#12

are we allowed to use them if we take them out?

#13

Yes, disassembling non-electronic legal parts still leaves you with legal parts (is how it was ruled in the past)

4 Likes
#14

However, there’s a reason those aren’t common to see in robots. I’m guessing it’s because they’re so small and not that powerful. But, by all means, give it a try!

3 Likes
#15

Can somebody put a link to @Codec’s design, I would like to take a look at it

#16

I remember QCC2 very happy when we handed over our stash of clutches :slight_smile: They certainly knew how to make the most of all materials available in their designs.

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#17
1 Like