Ball Lock Two Speed Robot Transmission

This is a 3D printed proof of concept and display model for the USFIRST robotics team "The Tigertons 222" Ball Lock transmission printed by me. The original three speed version we used in 2004 was inspired by the 1970's five speed Hodaka motorcycle transmission Since 2004 we have been changing up the design a bit.

This year/season we located the shifting relief springs to the outside of the transmission rather than inside the shifting shaft.

The transmission works by forcing four steel balls into the gears by a plunger inside the shifting shaft. To shift gears the plunger slides out from under one gear to underneath the next gear. This retracts the balls down into the shifting shaft which allows that gear to spin freely on the shaft. Once the plunger goes to the next gear it forces the balls underneath that gear to lock into that gear.

Please see the following for more information:

Here is a video I made of this prototype transmission:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj6naPPiQOw

Here is a video I made many years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7ng4OWilUY

Here is an animation I made many years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZc3npI1Mdk

Feel free to check out:
www.tigertrons.net
www.usfirst.org

The pictures show the 3D printed transmission in white ABS.

The completed CNC machined transmission with some actual end use 3D printed parts.

The original 2004 transmission. As you can see we have improved the design greatly!

The five speed Hodaka shifting shaft and gears.

The complete Tigertrons robot.