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View Full Version : pic: Chain Tensioner

gorrilla
24-01-2010, 12:20
[cdm-description=photo]34570[/cdm-description]
MrForbes
24-01-2010, 12:26
NOW we know what kit wheels are for! very clever
IndySam
24-01-2010, 12:46
Man I love stuff like this. Great job!
Andy Baker
24-01-2010, 13:34
Dang, that is extremely cool. This is the first I've ever seen or heard of this use of a kit wheel.

Andy B.
MrForbes
24-01-2010, 13:45
Andy--there might be a market for a small aluminum sprocket with a bearing pressed tightly into it.

McMaster sells steel idlers like that....they're kind of heavy and big.
gorrilla
24-01-2010, 14:17
Dang, that is extremely cool. This is the first I've ever seen or heard of this use of a kit wheel.

Andy B.

well, we bought 4 chain tensioners from AM', and we tried to use them but due to clearance issues they wouldent work for us. So we had to come up with something else.

If AM' sold something like this, I think alot of teams would be interested (including us, as we no longer have any extra KOP wheels)
Tytus Gerrish
24-01-2010, 18:35
sweet, you should put one of these on the side http://www.knowyourmind.co.uk/images/spiral.jpg
vivek16
24-01-2010, 21:26
Andy--there might be a market for a small aluminum sprocket with a bearing pressed tightly into it.

McMaster sells steel idlers like that....they're kind of heavy and big.

I'd buy that.
JesseK
24-01-2010, 21:34
(Ingenuity aside...) Why use a bearing when nylon has been proven by many teams to be just as effective? Even a brass bushing would be less expensive and probably lighter than a bearing. The efficiency loss between the two is somewhat nominal; this year's FTC shooters are a good example.

My current favorite chain tensioner sprocket:
https://sdp-si.com/eStore/PartDetail.asp?Opener=Group&PartID=5213&GroupID=585 (ignore the pictures, look at the material type)
Vikesrock
24-01-2010, 21:51
At the very least I would take 3 of those bolts out to save some weight, all 6 probably isn't necessary for an idler.
IndySam
24-01-2010, 22:00
At the very least I would take 3 of those bolts out to save some weight, all 6 probably isn't necessary for an idler.

Their robot is tiny, I think they have the weight to spare. :)
gorrilla
24-01-2010, 22:27
Their robot is tiny, I think they have the weight to spare. :)

hopefully ;)
Travis Hoffman
24-01-2010, 22:42
I'd buy that.

I'd use it this year.
mark johnson
25-01-2010, 00:13
Great job guys ,simple,effective,light,and inexpensive . All the things needed to keep to the K.I.S.S. method, my favorite way to build anything!