Machined Wheels

[sanddrag]

How do all these teams get away with using machined aluminum wheels? I don't see anything wrong with that, but I didn't think stock that big was on the Additional Hardware List.

Also if you have pictures of your fancy (robot) rims, post them here.

[Aaron Lussier]

Any questions just ask.

Check this thread for pics of our wheels (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=14134)

[sanddrag]

Yeah I saw your wheels before. But I looked in the additional hardware list and it seems like the largest aluminum extrusion allowed is 2"x3" cross section. So I'm still wondering how it is legal to have custom machined say, 6" wheels.

[Bill Gold]

The materials that my team used to make our wheels was 6" cross section aluminum round stock from the SPI catalog, therefore it was a legal material. That's how I would assume most teams build their wheels.

http://www.engineeringfindings.com/cat22/cat22pg27.pdf
Part #B-ZRA-96

[sanddrag]

Okay so that's how it's legal. Thanks. I still think that's kind of dumb because any local metal supply store such as Industrial Metal Supply has the same stuff for much less.

[Jack]

Originally posted by sanddrag
Okay so that's how it's legal. Thanks. I still think that's kind of dumb because any local metal supply store such as Industrial Metal Supply has the same stuff for much less.

I agree. I think that there is a rumor that we might get a different/extra company (like Small Parts) next year.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14256&highlight=drive+train there is a pic of 201's metal wheels.

[sanddrag]

Yes, It was said at the FIRST Forum that we will have a different supplier than Small Parts for 2003 but would not specify which one. This is due to the fact that the increasing # of FIRST teams has caused Small Parts to become Small Inventory. I hope the new supplier is McMaster Carr. McMaster is really great but their biggest round aluminum stock is 5" diameter. Perhaps the additional hardware list will be changed so we can buy stuff like that from local places. You could also cut circles out of really thick plate however that is still illegal for 2002 rules.

Has anyone ever made Delrin wheels? That would be really cool too and sooo light.