The SWYFT FRC Box Elevator is a rigid, high-performance cascading elevator designed specifically for competitive FRC robots. Built around a 2" x 1" aluminum frame, it delivers exceptional stiffness and perfectly linear motion while remaining easy to build, customize, and maintain. Whether you need a powerful pick-and-place mechanism, a robot lifter, or a versatile vertical motion system, this elevator is engineered to win.
The first stage is driven by dual #25H chains, while the second stage uses dual UHMWPE 4mm rope for smooth cascading motion. All motion is guided by precision 7075 aluminum bearing blocks that incorporate both needle bearings and ball bearings — no rollers — ensuring the carriage stays perfectly constrained for smooth, rigid, and repeatable travel.
Key Specifications
Frame Size: 2" x 1" aluminum tubing
Stages: 2-stage cascading design
Drive:
Stage 1: Dual #25H chain
Stage 2: Dual UHMWPE 4mm rope cascade
Bearing System: 7075 aluminum bearing blocks with needle bearings + ball bearings (no rollers)
Maximum Starting Height: 47"
Maximum Stroke Length: 80"
Drive Input: 1/2" hex axle at the bottom of the elevator
Mounting Plates: 0.25" thick rigid plates with mounting provisions for common gearboxes (including REV Max Planetary, WCP PlanetaryX)
Compatible Tubing: SWYFT Tube or any standard 2" x 1" aluminum tubing with holes. Supports 1/8", 1/16", and 0.035" wall thicknesses.
Customization
Nearly every aspect of the elevator can be tailored to your robot:
Starting height
Overall width
Carriage height
Tube wall thickness (mix thicknesses between stages if desired)
Motor/gearbox mounting configuration
Kit Options
Base Kit: Includes all hardware, screws, tools, bearing blocks, chain, rope, and assembly components (tubes, endcaps, axles not included).
Base Kit + Tubes + Endcaps + Axles: Includes everything above plus your choice of 2" x 1" aluminum tubing, matching endcaps, and 1/2" hex axles.
For mixed wall thicknesses (e.g., thicker tubing on the base stage and thinner tubing higher up), purchase the tubing separately from the SWYFT Tube product page.
Build & Maintenance
Designed for easy assembly and field maintenance. The only external tools required are:
All allen keys, screws, and small hardware are included in the kit.
Compatibility
Works with SWYFT Tube and standard 2" x 1" FRC aluminum tubing. The modular design integrates cleanly with common FRC structure systems and allows flexible motor mounting and drive routing.
Assumes maximum elevator length and does not include motor or gearbox.
Stroke length calculator
Stroke for your elevator size
80.0"estimated stroke (203.2 cm)
Stroke = 80 + 2 × (height − 47) − 2 × (carriage − 4.5), from the 47" height + 4.5" carriage = 80" reference. Assumes both stages scale with retracted height and the same fixed overhead. Used for the travel time below.
Speed & lift calculator
How fast will your Box Elevator move?
Number of motors
Force seen at the drive (2× for the 2-stage cascade): 6.0 lb from 3.0 lb at the carriage
Fast
Carriage speed (loaded)
98.5 in/s
8.21 ft/s
Max carriage speed
99.0 in/s
8.25 ft/s (free × efficiency)
Time for 80.0" stroke
0.81 s
At loaded speed, no accel
Max load at limit
58.8 lb
Carriage + game piece, at stall
Current at this load
4.7 A/motor
9.5 A total
Ratings: Can't lift = load needs more torque than the current limit allows; Slow < 30 in/s; Good 30–60 in/s; Fast > 60 in/s (loaded carriage speed).
Assumes an ideal 2-stage cascade (1.65" pitch-diameter drive sprocket; carriage moves 2× the chain and sees half its force), chain and rope losses folded into efficiency, 12 V, a linear motor curve, and no springs or counterbalance. Load is the carriage + game piece only (default 3 lb, so 6 lb at the drive); the elevator's own weight is not lifted by the motor the same way and is not included. Stroke comes from the stroke length calculator (default 80"). Motor data from ReCalc (reca.lc).
