Mechanical Information

I will use this section to post mechanical resources, especially those that give standard sizes, etc.

Boltdepot.com has a very good collection of fastener information.
SDP-SI has a good collection of belt and gear information.
Pipeline Industries has posted engineering calculations for force associated with latex surgical tubing at various elongations.
Free Technical Charts has...free technical charts!
Gates Belt Theory

Roller Chain measurements

White Paper on CD, belts vs chains


Drive Train Calculator

              

Robotics Tutorials

SparkFun has a lot of useful products, especially sensors.  They also have a lot of good tutorials.  They have just started up a video series on concepts in robots.  A few minutes each, they do a good job of explaining basic concepts.  The first video is a bit of a promo of their series and new products, but later videos concentrate on the concepts more.  I recommend that you go to the intro video, and subscribe.

Robotics 101
Intro
Angular Motion
Linear Motion
Transfer of Motion
Precision Motion
Mechanical Structure
Tools


As always, SparkFun has an extensive Learn section on their website, with tutorials and curricula available.

Related Video:
Mechanical Principles (1930) * by Ralph Steiner
Mechanical Video

Kickoff Links and Announcements for 2014

FRC Blog announcements

Key elements of this announcement

1)  FIRST has released the game manual.  Be sure to read the whole manual.

2)  Computer software, such as the National Instruments LabView program which we will use, are now available for download and installation on your computer.  Download the LabView DVD and the FRC update now.  The authorization code was issued in the Kit of Parts for 2014.

National Instruments has also significantly re-worked much of their training and software pages.

3)  Field tour videos  are posted on the FRC youtube channel.