New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

Just got an email about AndyMark offering a new tread material.

Pebbletop Tread



Anyone used something like this before? Any ideas about the CoF?

They are also selling Blue Nitrile Roughtop Tread

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

Nice they finally have blue nitrile tread. McMaster is cheaper (5994K9) but you have to cut it to proper width.

Curious about the pebbletop as well.

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

Pebbletop tread:
•Coefficient of Friction on tight-pile carpet: 1.24

Blue Nitrile:
•Coefficient of Friction on tight-pile carpet: 1.19

from the product specs at AndyMark

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

According to AndyMark, the pebbletop has a CoF of 1.24 on tight-pile carpet, while the Blue Nitrile has a CoF of 1.19. I haven't ever used it or seen it used, so I can't say anything about wear characteristics, though.

Edit: Mark beat me to it

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

Thanks guys, Just so everyone knows, they updated their product page. I promise I can read :)

Would still like to know if anyone has used something similar to pebbletop before.

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

Also of particular note is a new pressure transducer. It's very exciting to see an affordable pressure transducer (with a datasheet).

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

I'm willing to bet this is a product that AnyMark had moulded for them.

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

I doubt that. I get offers from our suppliers to buy the same stuff.

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

I'm sure a lot of FTC teams wish this had come out a few months earlier - it looks like a great tread for climbing the churros on the mountain.

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

That is debatable. The Various FRC treads generally* don't work well on the mountains.

* From personal experience and observations at various competitions.

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

I too just noticed this on AndyMark's site.

If it wears better than Blue Nitrile we will be a big fan of this material.
In 2014 we switched to the AndyMark white 4" wheels as these had more material and lasted longer.
The CoF for these wheels on carpet is a little less than the other wheels. (1.07)
https://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2256.htm

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

My point is that the tread pattern here is different from the other FRC treads, in that it has transverse grooves across the whole width rather than angled or interrupted grooves, holes, or a solid tread. If the widths of these grooves and ridges are appropriate, it would mechanically engage the churros better than a solid or angled tread pattern.

Re: New Tread from AndyMark - Pebbletop Tread
 

We're using 4x 4" colsons for FTC and have no problem driving up to mid. More than high enough for our climbing mechanism to engage the pull up bar for our 80pt hang. It has nothing to do with your tread pattern or which wheel. Teams around us have tried every combination of wheel and it really has nothing to do with engaging your wheel on the churros.

If the geometry of your drive base is done correctly and your COG is far enough forward (something we struggle with every time we add or remove a mechanism), I'm confident a much less grippy wheel like roughtop on the plastic pyramid would work just as well.


That being said, this is a cool alternative for FRC teams who use treaded wheels. The pattern is much closer to the VexPro W-Cut wheels which is probably the best COTS wheel for traction in the forward/backward direction due to the nature of the horizontal cuts.