Description
The Thrifty Cycloidal is a fully-assembled, battle tested all-in-one solution designed for high torque arms. Designed in collaboration with 118 and tested on the 2025 Robonauts robot's arm and intake, Thrifty Bot is proud to offer the first commercially available FRC cycloidal gearbox.
Gear Ratio: 23:1
Why Cycloidals?
Cycloidal drives offer higher torque density and virtually zero backlash compared to equivalent planetary gearboxes, thanks to their multi‑lobed cam engaging many pins rather than just a few gears. They’re inherently more shock‑resistant—so impacts and sudden loads won’t damage teeth—and their simple, rolling contact design means fewer wear points and longer service life. You get a more compact, durable unit that holds position better, making cycloidals ideal for anywhere you need a precise pivot on a robot. More info on Cycloidals here.
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Backlash: ~0.3 °
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Reversing Durability: Over 15,000 full‑reverse cycles at 1,000 RPM input and 25 Nm output torque with no loss of operation
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Static Load Capacity: Survives a locked‑input static load up to ~350 Nm
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Weight: Individual gearbox: .91 lbs
Gearbox + motor mount plate + mounting plate: 1.14 lbs
Designed For FRC Power Systems
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Motor Compatibility: Optimized for the Kraken X60 motor (stall torque ~4 Nm through a legal FRC power system)
- Kraken spline input with mounting holes for X60 or X44
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Efficiency: ~80% overall gearbox efficiency, delivering ~75 Nm at the output
Thrifty Cycloidals estimated shipping June 2025
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