Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

FIRST and FRC have gone through a LOT of changes since 2010. It's probably safe to assume that the GDC and their communication with 3rd party vendors varies from year-to-year, never mind over the course of 5 years.

I think a succinct way to say this would be: In FIRST, there really isn't such a thing as precedent.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I'm sure lots has changed, but FIRST has said that their game design process has gotten longer (i.e. more details decided earlier), so you'd expect vendors - especially a trusted vendor like AM - to have more information earlier on. I guess I'd say that with the focus on FIRST starting game design earlier and trying to get them locked in, it's disappointing that a game element as important as scoring platforms was added as late as October.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Product page is up, not available for sale yet.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

How does this work with bumpers?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Will the belts and pulleys be sold independently?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Well you only need bumpers on 3 sides of your robot this year.

It is pretty weird that AM is selling a key component of the KoP base 3 days before kickoff, though.

/s

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

It appears so, the description of the product lists a product number for them.
(I want c-c numbers so we can work on drive trains :] )

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Did I miss somewhere where it says that this is the 2016 KOP chassis? I saw Frank's blog post that the kit chassis would be similar to the AM14U2, which this is not IMO.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Take a closer look at what Wil said... :P

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Darn invisible text, gotta look closer next time

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I consider tracks to be in the same “do not use” list as Mecanums. But if you like it just research previous team 383 robots, they have done amazing things with tracks in the past. ;)

http://www.team383.org/en/index.html

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Another good example would be 1619. They have a lot of good info about tank treads.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I'm pretty excited about these breakout boards for the Talon SRX. We had to have custom ones made last season, so it's nice to save time with an off-the-shelf solution.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

This is reasonable but a little odd. Like why would they use a different pin out for the analog input then the RoboRIO does? Also why did they force teams to use a 5 pin connector for the encoder instead of moving the index pins to one of the sides to allow for a 4 pin connection?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I'm also not a fan of the non-latching connectors. We tried it and it ended up being a mistake. We switched to wago connectors and were quite happy. There are latching .1" options though.

EDIT: I'm also a little worried about the through hole stuff. I doubt it will short and hopefully they align with the gaps between the fins on the case but why risk it when you can do a single sided board or 4+ layers and keep the bottom clean?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

These track drives look really sweet. I predict AM selling a lot of these outside of FRC. Will the individual parts be available for purchase?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Huh? Bumpers on 3 sides? Source?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

/s is internet lingo for sarcasm.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Indeed it is. I just don't see it in the original post I questioned:)

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Oh, highlight the post.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Post 107

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Tank tracks don't have much place in FRC as a COTS item unless it's for climbing field obstacles.... This is a sign for sure imo.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

If you look closely, you can see the shark fins.
In actual fact, the whole drivetrain looks just like Tetrix tread kit with a blue nitrile tread attached to the outside

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I really hope that this is a product that andymark is releasing because they can and not because of Stronghold. The idea of bumps that require treads makes me sick.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Today I learned something new. I've been using turnbuckles for years on antenna guy wires, cross braces for doors, braces for playhouses, etc. All the cases it's been working in tension.

The tank drive uses them in compression to keep the belts tight. A simple and elegant solution to the problem. Very cool.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Based on what Andy said yesterday it does not have anything to do with the game. It seemed as if the treads were more for industrial customers then us.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Assuming you aren't trying to make a joke of some kind.
Use your mouse cursor to highlight the complete contents of post 107.
The large blank space at the end is a giveaway.
The hidden sarcasm mark is the same color as the post background and can't be seen normally.
However, in the quote background you subsequently used, the slightly different color background makes it a little visible, and while you were composing your post it would have been fully visible.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

These tank tracks make it look like it'd be easy to climb another robot. Bumpers (if in the usual spot) are useless to stop them. Though as a deterrent, I suspect there'll be some toppled-over tank bots too.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Anyone know where AndyMark is sourcing these belts from ? My guess is gates or breco flex thru a local supplier but just curious because it seems like even in large quantities these would be expensive to buy for production costs. We've done tank treads in the past on robots and so I curious. I think this tells us a lot about the game. :]

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Source?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Probably here.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hreadid=140340


http://www.twitch.tv/firstupdatesnow/v/30497251 (starts at 1:00:25)

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Andy mentioned this last night and it just showed up. http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-3214-6.htm

I think a lot of you will like it.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

At 1/16" wall, we can procure this locally (in 20' lengths) the same week day (from one of our sponsors, no less). It's still great that this is available to all teams (and we may use this price for BoM purposes). This is a good bit thinner wall than Vex 2x1 tubing (which is 1/10" wall, about 50% thicker), but probably good enough for most superstructure/manipulator applications.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Why would you price it at the more expensive price when you can price it as if from a metal supplier?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

If we only use a few feet of it, the AM price may be better for BoM purposes.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Online Metals will happily sell you a foot for $2.87 (or 6 for $12.75), so I can't see a scenario where AndyMark is the low cost provider. For some teams where ordering anything in a reasonable amount of time is a herculean task they are certainly the most convenient provider though.

Online Metals link

I'm going to assume it's for international teams.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Well, I think the most conclusive evidence that tank treads will not be required for FIRST Stronghold is the fact that the robot in the teaser video appears to have an 8WD, not treads.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I'm still surprised that none of the robots in 2013 were 2WD, as the game animation indicated.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I guess you'll need to fix that. :rolleyes:

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I'd expect one wheel from you...

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

You don't need wheels!

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

That whole thing is a wheel.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Andymark has updated their website!

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

What exactly is Euroboard? And why are all the new wheels' CoFs measured on Euroboard?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

That was a joke. Euroboard is/was the floor for the FTC field.

New wheels because supply and demand.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Euroboard is a painted aluminum composite panel. We list a CoF on that kind of surface because we expect to see it used as a drive wheel in FIRST Tech Challenge robots more than as a drive wheel for FIRST Robotics Competition teams.

There's a lot of updates were still making so its likely you'll see more information being added over the upcoming weeks.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I discovered that I can access the old website by getting a 404 error on Andymark, and the links on it still works! :P

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Yes! The pulleys are being sold separately.
AM part# = am-3298
Edit: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-3298.htm

Dave

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

I don't see the belts getting sold separately though. Will the tank track belts be sold separately? It would be nice so people could get replacements

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Since one of the design parameters seems to have been the ability to replace the belts quickly I'd say that they will eventually offer the belts separately. If you look at the pdfs of it it looks like all that is needed to replace the belt is removal of one stand off and of course loosing up the tensioning turn buckle far enough to get the belt off of one of the end pulleys.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

We're listening, and we realize that our price is high. We've lowered our 6' length down to $17 per stick.

Yep, the Rhino Track Drive belts will be sold separately as product am-3288. They are steel cord reinforced urethane timing belts, 65.5" long (endless loop), with blue carbox nitrile roughtop tread. They have a max tension point of 600 pounds. We have a bunch of pulleys and belts here in stock.

Andy

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Thanks for stocking the thin wall tubing Andy! It's great having a local cheap source for when we run out of our 973 supply. We went from no sources of thin wall tubing last year to at least 3 that will ship to us.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Some new stuff today:

A crimper for 6Ga lugs:
http://www.andymark.com/CrimpTool-p/am-3326.htm

An inexpensive, high CV solenoid valve:
http://www.andymark.com/Pneumatic-p/am-3324.htm

And a really neat shifting PTO "Rocketbox":
http://www.andymark.com/PTO-p/am-rocketbox.htm

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Rocketbox looks really cool. If I wanted a PTO this year that's probably where I would go.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

$320 is a little much for a PTO, don't you think?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Not really. Can you point to a comparable product for less?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Not based on the manufacturing cost.

Edit: Cim encoder too! http://www.andymark.com/encoder-p/am-3314.htm

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Now that we can use!

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

It is slightly more expensive than the WCP Shifting gearbox, and the shifting is being allocated to a whole new shaft. It's definitely expensive, but so is everything else in the robot world.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

http://www.andymark.com/encoder-p/am-3314.htm

Looks a little pricy when there is already open source 3d printable alternative.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Not if you don't have a 3D printer or mill/lathe. Also This looks thinner that the AMT-103V based options.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

That is true. It does require you to have a 3d printer. This CIM motor encoder is how ever way more versatile than the 3d printed one due to the fact that you do not loose that much shaft.

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

These things are some bad mountable encoders! ;)

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

What parts are needed to convert the standard am14u3 kit from AndyMark to be able to use 8" pneumatic wheels?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

AM-14U3-PN8

That will be a kit that will contain everything needed to outfit the AndyMark 8" pneumatic wheel on the AM14U3 Chassis.

It should be available for purchase this weekend.

Watch us assemble it LIVE: andymark.com/ri3d

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Hey my team just got the 8" wheel upgrade kit last night, and we are having some trouble figuring out which pieces go where. We have tried calling AndyMark but was asked to wait for the CAD files. Has anyone successfully put it together and would be able to help in the meanwhile?

Re: New AndyMark products 2016
 

Ri3D Team [REDACTED] put together an early version of the pneumatic wheel kit but per my conversation with one of the AndyMark engineers the kit that is being sold to the general public has been changed based on the experiences of putting together the prototype kit.

So from my understanding on the drive wheel both pulleys go on the same side opposite from the valve stem side. On the outer wheel which will be driven by the outer belt there is a larger spacer that goes between the wheel and pulley. On the wheel driven by the inside belt there will be a long spacer outside the pulley.

Note for the kit used by some of the Ri3D teams you do need some of the spacers used in the basic 14U3 chassis.

So based on what I know now the wheel/axle spacers will go sort of like this.

Center driven wheel.
hex hub-wheel-small hub spacer-pulley-hub spacer?-pulley-hex bore spacer.

Outer wheel 1
small axle spacer- bearing/wheel/bearing assembly-hub spacer-pulley-long spacer

Outer wheel 2
small axle spacer-bearing/wheel/bearing assembly- thick hub spacer/hub spacer?-pulley-axle spacer.

Note this is speculation particularly those parts marked with a ? but hopefully that is enough to get you headed in the correct direction. In all cases the order is based on starting at the inner plate that carries the transmission.

Note that the kit the Ri3D teams used came with belts for a "long" 8" wheel configuration but we and the 'Snow Problem team used the belts and wheel locations for the square configuration for a shorter wheel base. In our case it was to reduce the break over angle, ie reduce the likelihood of getting high centered on the rock wall or moat. We also found that configuration gets the front of the chassis higher as you go up the ramps that the defense sits between. That was a plus when crossing the low defenses but a minus when getting under the bar or getting an manipulator under the porticullis to lift it.

8' pneumatic wheel conversion setup
 

Team 3366, Roscoe Plowbots here, we have tried this conversion kit; however, we could not find the order to assemble it. We finally discovered that it requires some self manufacturing. Here is what we did:

Main Hub: hub ground down 3/8'- pulley - wheel, - pulley spacer w/ pulley end cap - hex nut

Right Wheel: small white spacer - large white spacer - inset pulley spacer - pulley - wheel - 34mm custom spacer

Left Wheel: small white spacer - large white spacer - wheel - 34mm custom spacer.

This is for the pneumatic 8' square drive train with 6 wheels. We used a small pvc pipe for the 34 mm custom spacer. Note: on left wheel you do not use the inset pulley spacer, if you do your bolts will get caught on the frame of the robot.