Vibration issues

[Danjr1]

Has anyone else had any possible vibration issues with drill motors and gearboxes (mainly the 12v Argos ones)? I was running the robot around the paved area in my garden and it developed a knocking from one of the motors. The motors are mounted very rigidly through a 20mm hdpe chassis. I fixed it by changing the part of the motor/gearbox where the axle and the grub screws are

[widow_twanky]

Re: Vibration issues

Has anyone else had any possible vibration issues with drill motors and gearboxes (mainly the 12v Argos ones)? I was running the robot around the paved area in my garden and it developed a knocking from one of the motors. The motors are mounted very rigidly through a 20mm hdpe chassis. I fixed it by changing the part of the motor/gearbox where the axle and the grub screws are

We have had an ongoing problem with BOOM keep killing its drill motors. Problems varying from detatched spur gear on the motor, shattered planet gears and broken casings. We sort of got to the point where we thought the problem was that the amount of torque transmitted through the wheels/gearboxes due to the stiffness of the chasis must be the problem. We then tried the o ring solution for the motors and found these last about five fights (and then they disintegrate) but the motor is safe and it's a simple job to just replace these.

[Danjr1]

Re: Vibration issues

Wonderful! Lol. May try some bicycle inner tube in the motor mounts to isolate them a little!

[PJ-27]

Re: Vibration issues

Our Argos drill motors conked out after a short while, I guess they're just crappy!

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Vibration issues

It sounds to me like it could be one of two things.

1) If you're using the grub screw method to lock the gear assembly, it's possible that the grub screws aren't tight enough and the ring gear/torque ring is slipping. When it slips it makes a knocking or grinding noise, so try tightening up the grub screws (not really tight though) and see what happens.

2) I've been using some 12V Argos drills in a robot I'm building for someone and had problems with a couple of them where there was a loud knocking or grinding noise when they were turning. It felt quite rough as well, and when I opened them up, the three small metal gears (the set nearest the output shaft) weren't rotating on their pins, they were just loose inside the gearbox. I'm not sure whether the owner had opened them up and re-assembled them as such (shed some light here if you wish Tony ) or if they came like that from Argos (which would be a serious quality control issue!) but it might be worth dismantling the gearbox and making sure everything is rotating on pins or shafts. Once I sorted that, they ran fine. I've yet to check the other two and see if there is a similar problem, but if there is I'll let you know.

At the end of the day you get what you pay for with the Argos drills; they are the cheapest available and the lowest end of the range. Having said that, I would expect them to perform to standards similar to those of other generic drill motors which, in my opinion, should be at least several battles/a few events.

[Danjr1]

Re: Vibration issues

Couple of the drills I bought from Argos came with the metal gears not mounted on the pins. I always take them apart to grease the gears properly anyway. I checked the grub screws and they seem fine. I'm thinking it was just a dodgy unit that was going to break anyway. Changing the axle/grub screw part of the casing seems to have fixed it for now. Going to give it another run in the garden later

[mattsdragons]

Re: Vibration issues

they do have some serious quality control issues and yes they only last a few events but for 10 quid you cant really complain

[Anttazz]

Re: Vibration issues

I don't remember doing it, but it was probably my fault Jamie .

[james...venom]

Re: Vibration issues

classic problem is the pins on the final stage coming loose. They are only pressed in and so over time with the constant acceleration and braking they wiggle out.

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Vibration issues

Just dismantled the other two drills and they had the same issue. If you took them apart during the grub-screwing process Tony, then chances are you just put the gears back in the wrong place, but if you didn't open up the gearboxes at all since getting them, then I'm kinda shocked at the lack of quality control and that these are actually making it to customers.

This is what the metal gear stage looked like in all four motors:



Those three gears should be fitted onto the metal pins so that they can rotate but keep their place in the overall layout. But here, they are free to move in or out from the centre and do not engage properly when turning. Pretty useless as a cordless drill let alone a robot motor.

[Anttazz]

Re: Vibration issues

Hmmm, that looks fairly horrific, I don't think I would have made such an obvious mistake.

I took 2 of them apart when I was putting the O-ring in them, then took it out when I got the grub screws. The other 2 I already had the screws so I just used them without taking the whole thing to bits.

Glad you noticed that Jamie

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Vibration issues

I don't think I would have made such an obvious mistake.

That was my thought, which is why I was pretty sure it was a manufacturing issue. Glad I noticed it too, otherwise your robot wouldn't be going anywhere

[Danjr1]

Re: Vibration issues

I'm just going to keep the gearboxes oiled and greased and see how I go!

Jamie, did you use the Argos motors at 16.8v or some other motors?

[Anttazz]

Re: Vibration issues

The ones Jamie has posted a picture of are Argos ones run at 19.2V.

[Danjr1]

Re: Vibration issues

How du get them to last?!