GT compatible VESC ecosystem
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Hiiiiya,
I want to work on building a VESC ecosystem with @cheppy44 to drop into an existing chassis but with the XR kinda already at the limit of what you can reasonably squeeze in it without redoing the whole thing I figure the GT might be a good ecosystem to work in.
Also if I worked on the XR I'd end up just making a better version of that other box while stepping on toes so I'll just avoid that.
Looking at the pics I don't see much space for improving the GT controller housing other than making it more friendly for modifying and maybe making it compatible with alternative connectors. That said I'm sure I could find something to make it better.
To those with a GT would you actually want alternative controller and battery housing? Compatible with stock bumpers and pads ofc but designed for dropping a VESC in with other features thrown in where they make sense. Or am I right in thinking upgrading the GT chassis is chasing diminishing returns?
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@lia You're right in that the GT chassis is better for vesc. The battery housing is already 18s and the top cover on controller can be removed without removing the whole box like on the XR.
The weak point is the motor connector on the stock GT, proprietary and marginal for handling large phase currents, but you're replacing the connectors anyways. XR chassis is so outdated.
Can't wait to see the collaboration results. -
@lia I'd say go for it, though I think personally I'd keep the battery since it's already pretty beefy, but I would think that you may have to put in your BMS since I'd assume that no one has been able to crack the stock BMS and it's probably gonna throw a fit if you try to hook it up to a VESC
I could be completely wrong though, and I have not googled anything at all
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Call me crazy but I like the squared look of the XR frame. The GT rails are ugly to me. However, the internal volume of the GT is where it's at.
I've said it before but I would like a platform where I can swap the rear quarter rails with a larger battery. I'm not sold on cramming in a CBXR or hot-swappable connections. When it comes time to swap my electronics, I feel the same. So again, internal volume reigns supreme.
Ideally, a thicker XR would be what my heart desires.
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@blkdout I feel that, since I'm worried about the batteries getting old. I know LiPo's get puffy but I'm unsure if the 18650's puff up when they get old.
I'd rather have the same battery in the back, or have a larger battery in a backpack connected to the XR.
113 volts?! I could lick that!
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@loaffette I definitely don't want a different battery chemistry, especially not LiPo. Only more capacity and voltage. When it comes to better electronics, I don't even know what I'm missing yet lol. I just want a system capable of handling more torque and a battery that can deliver it in a boxy, XR package.
Sorry, I went off track with my "wishes" but @Lia investing into the GT platform is, IMO, the way to go.
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@blkdout all good!
113 volts?! I could lick that!
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@loaffette No worries! Once you get into trails and gnar, the backpack battery also becomes a hard sell. Excellent solution for flat extended range though. GT, or at least more volumeous (not a word lol) rails is the way forward until those magic batteries happen.
But don't get me wrong either, LiPo would be absolutely killer but their stability is nothing to mess with.
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@blkdout said in GT compatible VESC ecosystem:
I like the squared look of the XR frame. The GT rails are ugly to me. However, the internal volume of the GT is where it's at.
I really love the old look of the V1, Plus and XR. I'd stick with it if I could but I found myself wanting to carve chunks out of bumpers or footpads to make more space. That said the GT rails grew on me especially with the cool 3rd party rails out there now.
Speaking of which I'm going to see if I can get my hands on some second hand GT rails to start doing some proper modelling for it all. Without it's kind of a shot in the dark and I'm not repeating the Pint revival nightmare lol.
I managed to learn Fusion360 and have a year license for Solidworks if I choose to play with the big girl toys so I can actually model things "properly".
Me and my old stinky CAD
New Shiny CAD software. Converted some of my Sketchup work to parametric for practice :3 Took a day (I'm proud of myself)
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@lia The GT rails look a bit sketch but I may look into seeing if someone in the DFW area has rails that I could try and replicate via cad or at least get some reference pictures for
A lot of people in DFW have OW parts and there's a 1wheelparts shop there, so I may look into seeing if they would let me take a look at a spare set of rails
113 volts?! I could lick that!
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@loaffette That would be great thank you :)
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@lia said in GT compatible VESC ecosystem:
I'm going to see if I can get my hands on some second hand GT rails
There's GOT to be a ton of them out there, probably even local to you, as so many folks seems to be putting after market rails on their GTs.
GT-S > GT > Pint X > XR > +
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@onedangt I would have thought so but I've not seen any pop up on eBay yet.
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@lia said in GT compatible VESC ecosystem:
New Shiny CAD software
Much better workflow imo. Assemblies from components. Embedded FEA. Can iterate 100 different ways in a week super easily. Worth the learning curve.
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Been looking for connectors to possibly use for such a housing. I can't find specs for the GT one since that'd probably be a good base to go off.
Finding a decent connector that has 3 phase + hall pins that can carry a decent current isn't trivial.
I did manage to find this though.
https://www.higoconnector.com/products/l1019dm-r-03-by-0300/4099K#title
It says it's rated for 40A at 60V on the phase wires. I'm sure the voltage could probably be pushed above 60V however the thread is only 19mm which is a shame because if it was m20 then it would be a drop in replacement in the ELM box.
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@lia dumb idea but couldn't you just 3D print out some sort of thread adapter or get an adapter?
113 volts?! I could lick that!
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@loaffette The printed walls would be 0.5mm without considering the threads :(
For a laugh I looked up helicoils at this size and nearly fell out my chair at the prices lol. -
Looks like I get my wish to work on the GT platform afterall. Stoked Stock has reached out to collab and finish off a battery housing for the GT and possibly some other things here and there ^-^ Lots of cool ideas have been mentioned.
There are some GT bits in the post to work with and some printed mockup parts of where the project was mostly finished but needed some little more work in places.
Will share a little more when I:
A. Actually finish recovering from a surgery (I'm doing well don't worry)
B. Have the stuff to show the progress :) Still in the post and sharing half a battery box now seems a bit naff.Big thanks to Stoked Stock for reaching out and providing the resources to hit the ground running with this. It's nice to be working on stuff again in a community I feel at home in x
Haven't forgotten about the lights either, those are still WIP for the next batch with alterations to the rear set for better compatability.
Edit: Look what showed up ^-^
I now have something to do this weekend :3 -
I've been busy ^-^
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I bite off more than I can chew so I can always be doing something. Was time to carry this on ^-^
Minor modifications have been needed but it's so close at this point.
It has been confirmed that 20s3p 18650 fit comfortably in here with room for adequate padding, wiring and a BMS. Image courtesy of StokedStock.
20s2p 21700 also fits nicely again with room for padding, wiring and a BMS. Image again courtesy of StokedStock :)
