Odyssey BMX » Daily Word » Flatware “Socket Drive”

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The Rhode Island Sprocket
Socket Drive

Daily Word »

FLATWARE TWOMBOLT:
» 160mm arms.
» Twombolt wedge cluster assembly system.
» Flatland specific gauge tubing and a larger spindle-bore hole size allow for a significantly lighter crankset.
» Socket Drive interface eliminates the need for a sprocket bolt allows for the use of very small sprocket sizes.
» 41-Thermal processed.
» Available in Black.
» Weight without BB: 1lb. 7.1oz. / 654.88g
» Weight with standard mid BB: 1lb. 13.1 oz. / 824.98g

FLATWARE RHODE ISLAND "SOCKET DRIVE":
» Socket Drive interface.
» 7075-T6 aluminum.
» 20 or 22-T.
» 1/8" tooth thickness.
» Available in Black, Gold and High Polished.

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About the flipbook above:

Here’s the latest product to come out of Flatware line. This new flatland-specific Twombolt crank and Rhode Island sprocket are available now, so hit up your shops and mail-orders to get a set. Click around the flipbook above for pics and read below for details.

New “Socket Drive” Interface

This 9-sided sprocket interface has been designed as a new standard for sprocket fitting. It can be built into the spindle on 2-piece cranks like the Twombolt, or it can be incorporated into the arm on 3-piece cranks. 

A new interface seemed to be a necessary development because sprockets have become smaller across the board. On anything less than a 25-T there starts to be a heavy concentration of stress around the drive bolt and the sprocket teeth. Switching to a closer spaced sprocket bolt is one solution, but that also increases the stress on the sprocket as the same torque applied at a closer radius results in a much larger contact force.

This new feature eliminates the need for a drive bolt altogether, which saves weight and simplifies the entire assembly process, as well as removing a potential weak spot in the crank arm. 

The Socket Drive interface size is big enough to let a 22mm axle pass through in the case of 3-piece crank designs. Nine sides were chosen because an odd number of sides allows the sprocket to self-center, so the sprocket can be a relatively relaxed fit on the interface rather than needing to be a interference fit to ensure concentricity (as it is on the standard Twombolt crank).

Nine was chosen over “seven” sides or “eleven” because ultimately the engineering numbers look good. As the number of sides increases the fit becomes more critical, making manufacturing and assembly harder. As the number of sides decreases, the inefficiency of the interface overall decreases and the weight increases. The nine-sided Socket Drive interface also eliminates the need for the steel insert that might be necessary with a splined interface, which helps keep everything simple and affordable. 

Sprockets down to a size of 10 teeth are theoretically possible (though lets hope things never go that far) so this means the interface should be “future proof” too. 

If you’re a manufacturer that’s interested in using the ROYALTY FREE interface, please download the spec sheet for dimensions and tolerancing specifications and feel free to use the drawing to produce your own Socket Drive sprockets. Dimensions for making the crank’s sprocket boss will also be posted soon.

Date: 08.07.09
Comments: 22 Comments
Categories: Flatware, Flipbooks, New Product, Product Updates, Tech Corner
Tags: Rhode Island, socket drive, Twombolt

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22 Responses to “Flatware “Socket Drive””

Rob ( August 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm ):

Awesome. Can’t wait for socket drive Vermonts and Twombolt 175s. It’s the way of the future.
tyler ( August 7th, 2009 at 2:03 pm ):

I like how it’s royalty free: it shows Odyssey really cares about the future of BMX and isn’t just trying to create a gimmick in order to make a quick buck.
oh ( August 7th, 2009 at 3:13 pm ):

royalty free also means they hope others will jump on the idea, and the research behind it wont go to waste
jake ( August 7th, 2009 at 3:38 pm ):

Rhode Island? You talkin’ to me? Explain.
matt osborne ( August 7th, 2009 at 3:51 pm ):

Rhode Island,like the state Vermont. ha ha but sence its smaller rhode island. clever jim!
LameBMX ( August 7th, 2009 at 4:03 pm ):

ditto:
I like how it’s royalty free: it shows Odyssey really cares about the future of BMX and isn’t just trying to create a gimmick in order to make a quick buck.

and an extra thanx to odyssey for looking out for us the consumers.
Charly ( August 7th, 2009 at 6:11 pm ):

should be good to aply it in the other bmx categories….
Space Bagels ( August 7th, 2009 at 7:11 pm ):

Anything stopping me from using these on street?

Anything stopping ANYONE from using these on ‘hard’ street?

If I were to hop whip or truck drive on flat (which is a legitimate flatland trick these days) EVERYDAY on these and somehow wobbled the sprocket crank interface will Odyssey warranty these?

Where’s the dividing line?
tom ( August 7th, 2009 at 9:14 pm ):

you can also create a crown washer much like the current spacer to convert the 9 sides into a 19 mm bore. so you can use other cranks. so it doesn’t polarize the field much like the pivotal posts did
John ( August 7th, 2009 at 9:36 pm ):

…convert the 9 sides into a 19 mm bore. so you can use other cranks

There’s no drive hole.
MSBNL ( August 8th, 2009 at 10:48 am ):

we want 175 mm! we want 175 mm! we want…etc.
Lactating Lesbian ( August 8th, 2009 at 5:02 pm ):

“you can also create a crown washer much like the current spacer to convert the 9 sides into a 19 mm bore. so you can use other cranks. so it doesn’t polarize the field much like the pivotal posts did”

So where the hell am I going to fasten the sprocket bolt to?
cameron ( August 9th, 2009 at 10:14 pm ):

yay i cant fuckin wait this shit gonna be bomb
dude ( August 10th, 2009 at 7:21 am ):

“you can also create a crown washer much like the current spacer to convert the 9 sides into a 19 mm bore. so you can use other cranks. so it doesn’t polarize the field much like the pivotal posts did”
i thought the spindal was a 22mm? how would you be able to convert anything on this crank to a 19mm? confused. interesting concept for flat though.
Flatware Twombolt e Rhode Island – Odyssey « Free Flatland ! ( August 12th, 2009 at 9:26 am ):

[...] Já estão dísponíveis no mercado. Mais dethalhes e fotos AQUI! [...]
D. Yoria ( August 12th, 2009 at 2:27 pm ):

I predict some creaky cranks, especially for those that bash and sprocket pivot… unless you don’t mind your bike sounding like shit when you pedal.

Aluminum is too soft–even 7075– to prevent that interface from developing slop.
c ( August 17th, 2009 at 6:00 pm ):

it won’t creak because its only seeing force in one rotational direction. also, i don’t know any flatlanders running 160mm cranks doing sprocket bashes. i just doesn’t happen.
c ( August 17th, 2009 at 6:02 pm ):

but thats a really good idea. i hope more companies catch on.
bmx shop ( September 1st, 2009 at 8:05 am ):

cool idea, hopefully other companies will jump on the train!

cheers

seppl
BetaBmx | O melhor do BMX no Brasil e no mundo: Vídeos, Notícias, Fotografias e muito mais. ( September 3rd, 2009 at 10:45 pm ):

[...] A novidade deste lançamento está em sua forma de se encaixar e se prender ao pé-de-vela. A “Socket Drive” poderá ser encaixada e presa perfeitamente ao pé-de-vela “Flatware Twombolt” (também [...]
OdysseyBMX.com / Daily Word » Blog Archive » Rhode Island Sprockets ( October 1st, 2009 at 12:51 am ):

[...] released our Socket Drive system a while ago and we recently received a new shipment of our Rhode Island sprockets. High [...]
x games ( December 31st, 2009 at 9:49 am ):

Thanks that was a awesome post!