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TankChain 10-01-2016 20:06
New Track Option
 
Hello everyone,

My name is Joshua Updyke and I am the president and founder of Tank Chain. We make a modular track system for robotics and other tracked vehicles. In the past month we had the a chance to talk with a few members of the FIRST community and we have been told that our product might be a good fit for other people in the community. We are currently making track for a few teams and in February we will have the chance to spend a day with one of these teams.

I was referred to this website by one of those members and they suggested that I make a post to share how we might be able to help other teams. As a company we support FIRST and wanted to offer our help to all the teams.

We offer a track system that is built around #35 roller chain and meshes with all standard roller chain sprockets of that size. We also are partnered with a company that offers sprockets, shafts, shaft collars and several other chain related items. We can offer complete track kits, or just individual components.

We currently manufacture the track in house and can typically ship within two weeks. If we get a large response our lead time would increase. However, we have already established a working relationship with an injection molding manufacturer who would be able to handle large orders. For injection molding the standard time to get the first parts would be 3 weeks, but we might be able expedite that a little.

If you would like to learn a little more about our product you can visit our website.

www.tankchain.com


Thank you,
Joshua Updyke
Director of Robotics | Tank Chain Robotics
jupdyke@gmail.com | http://www.tankchain.com

Lil' Lavery 10-01-2016 20:37
Re: New Track Option
 
This is a really cool looking product.

Are there any differences in durometer/material between tread colors?
Is there an assembly method that doesn't involve two spring clips for every link? I would prefer something I could trust a little more than having what is essentially building a chain entirely out of master links.

TankChain 10-01-2016 20:45
Re: New Track Option
 
There is no change in durometer based on the color. The treads are made of a Shore A 70 rubber which is as close to car tire rubber as we could fine.

In order to create a modular system that is easy to change and use in many applications, this was the design we arrived at. We have thought about making ones with chain that can not come apart. However, we have not had any issue with the clips coming off. Roller chain is designed to transmit much higher loads then would be seen in a track application.

Happy to answer any other questions.
Josh

DRH2o 10-01-2016 20:52
Re: New Track Option
 
Very interested!! How much does a one foot section weigh? What are your payment terms ( School P.O. etc ) ? I do not read Latin :D

TankChain 10-01-2016 20:56
Re: New Track Option
 
We are happy to accept any standard payment option. The website accepts credit cards, and we can send a paypal invoice for anything else. We can do POs via email to handle tax exempt situations as well. I suspect that most people here will qualify for that.

One foot of track weights approximately 532.8 grams (1.17 lbs).

Thanks for the heads up about the latin terms and conditions. Haha. I am gonna have to fix that soon.

Josh

mrnoble 10-01-2016 21:16
Re: New Track Option
 
It's a fascinating product, BUT

if I'm reading your pricing correctly, one link = one piece of chain. For #35, that means 2 links per inch, and if I assume a roughly 30" length for the side of the robot, we are looking at more than $700 per robot for black track (I didn't price the other colors, so I don't know if black is cheaper than red, say). That's pricey.

Am I reading this wrong?

Lil' Lavery 10-01-2016 21:18
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TankChain (Post 1520562)
There is no change in durometer based on the color. The treads are made of a Shore A 70 rubber which is as close to car tire rubber as we could fine.

In order to create a modular system that is easy to change and use in many applications, this was the design we arrived at. We have thought about making ones with chain that can not come apart. However, we have not had any issue with the clips coming off. Roller chain is designed to transmit much higher loads then would be seen in a track application.

Happy to answer any other questions.
Josh
Josh,

Thanks for your answers and pro-active approach to community interaction.

I'm not worried about the roller chain itself failing to transmit torque, but rather the spring clip pins coming undone. We've seen this every now and then over the years with #35 chain in our FRC drive systems, and that chain was not directly being exposed to the lateral loads that occur in FRC pushing matches. If you do every release a version with friction fit outer plates, I think teams may be more comfortable using this in drivetrain applications.

The other sticking point will likely be price. No track option is going to be cheap, but spending $40 per 12" of track is a tough pill to swallow for more budget-conscious teams.

evanperryg 10-01-2016 21:22
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrnoble (Post 1520611)
It's a fascinating product, BUT

if I'm reading your pricing correctly, one link = one piece of chain. For #35, that means 2 links per inch, and if I assume a roughly 30" length for the side of the robot, we are looking at more than $700 per robot for black track (I didn't price the other colors, so I don't know if black is cheaper than red, say). That's pricey.

Am I reading this wrong?
If you get 5 of the starter kits, it's only $200 for 60 inches of track.

TankChain 10-01-2016 21:25
Re: New Track Option
 
It would all really depend on the size of the robot. For black track the cost is $40 per foot of track. So if you need 17.5 feet of track then you are right it would cost $700.

We have really done our absolute best to keep the cost down. There are not many track products on the market and we designed this product because we wanted a solution. Another thing to consider is the cost of the hubs to drive track. Every other product like this on the market requires custom hubs. These are expensive and very limited in size. Our design can use all off the shelf #35 sprockets which are much cheaper than custom hubs.

Another thing to consider is the quality of the product. These are not plastic track with pins. Each track is rubber molded around two stainless steel pins and connected with two sections of steel roller chain. It is a very tough product.

Josh

TankChain 10-01-2016 21:33
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery (Post 1520613)
Josh,
I'm not worried about the roller chain itself failing to transmit torque, but rather the spring clip pins coming undone. We've seen this every now and then over the years with #35 chain in our FRC drive systems, and that chain was not directly being exposed to the lateral loads that occur in FRC pushing matches. If you do every release a version with friction fit outer plates, I think teams may be more comfortable using this in drivetrain applications.

The other sticking point will likely be price. No track option is going to be cheap, but spending $40 per 6" of track is a tough pill to swallow for more budget-conscious teams.
The problem with a press fit version is you lock your design to one size loop. So you would have to either order custom made loop which we would manufacture, or design your robot around a standard size which we picked. I was never a fan of your robot being designed around one part. The track should not limit your design but give you options.

Another benefit of a modular design is the ability to replace parts on the fly. If any part of the track gets damaged, you can swap out only the damage parts in a matter of minutes. If anyone is seriously interested in a press fit version, or a welded version send us a message and we can work up a quote. It would not be too difficult to have the plates tig welded to the pins. We could work up a cost for that.

As for the cost, it is $40 for 12 inches, not 6 inches. So you actually get twice as much as you thought. How is that for a deal. haha

Josh

Lil' Lavery 10-01-2016 21:41
Re: New Track Option
 
In general, when using #35 chain in our drive systems, we purchase chain in 10' lengths, break it to the length we need, and use a singular master link to join the ends of the chain. If there were a similar option available for this product (though in perhaps less than 10' segments), it would likely increase appeal somewhat (at least for us).

Apologies about misquoting the price. I simply multiplied 16 links by the pitch of #35 chain, without really thinking about it. I feel silly.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrnoble (Post 1520611)
It's a fascinating product, BUT

if I'm reading your pricing correctly, one link = one piece of chain. For #35, that means 2 links per inch, and if I assume a roughly 30" length for the side of the robot, we are looking at more than $700 per robot for black track (I didn't price the other colors, so I don't know if black is cheaper than red, say). That's pricey.

Am I reading this wrong?
For reference, that length of Brecoflex will set you back $200-300 per side of the machine, not counting the pulleys. The Andymark rhino system is $369 per side (with pulleys/plates/etc). No track system is going to be cheap.

IndySam 10-01-2016 21:48
Re: New Track Option
 
This is a very cool product but the lead time is concerning. DO you have starter kits available for purchase and testing.

Jon Stratis 10-01-2016 21:49
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TankChain (Post 1520636)
The problem with a press fit version is you lock your design to one size loop. So you would have to either order custom made loop which we would manufacture, or design your robot around a standard size which we picked. I was never a fan of your robot being designed around one part. The track should not limit your design but give you options.

Another benefit of a modular design is the ability to replace parts on the fly. If any part of the track gets damaged, you can swap out only the damage parts in a matter of minutes. If anyone is seriously interested in a press fit version, or a welded version send us a message and we can work up a quote. It would not be too difficult to have the plates tig welded to the pins. We could work up a cost for that.

As for the cost, it is $40 for 12 inches, not 6 inches. So you actually get twice as much as you thought. How is that for a deal. haha

Josh
The other option is to provide it like chain is provided - you give us certain fixed-length segments, and have a way built in to use a chain breaker to shorten them. Then rely on a single master link to join it together into a closed loop.

The price, as quoted, really isn't that bad. A typical FRC robot these days is ~2.5 feet long. Putting treads on them means you need about 10 feet of tread, or $400 worth. Yeah, it's a bit more expensive than a standard 6-wheel drive train, but so are other options (Like AndyMark's Rhino Track Drive Module, which is $738 for a standard robot, but it is more than just track).

My bigger concern would be how it turns on normal FRC carpet (for this year, Shaw Floors, Philadelphia Commercial, Neyland II 20, 30352, “Scotch Pine”). I'd love to see a "typical" robot (30"x30" square, weighted to a total of 150 lbs) setup with this for its drive train, and driven around on FRC carpet. I've seen plenty of robots with tank treads have trouble turning during competition before!

mrnoble 10-01-2016 21:55
Re: New Track Option
 
While trying to fill my cart on my iPhone, the starter kit isn't an option, which is why I went by the per link price; it's all I could see. Still, I think we'd need around 72" per side, and we are building two robots.

I really appreciate the prompt responses!

TankChain 10-01-2016 21:58
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by IndySam (Post 1520649)
This is a very cool product but the lead time is concerning. DO you have starter kits available for purchase and testing.
We manufacture the track in house and have inventory to make quite a few more tracks. Typical orders ship within 2 weeks or the order, but we shoot for having them in the mail in a 1 week turn around. We will do everything we can to ship orders ASAP because we understand that teams are working with a limited amount of time.

We are a growing company, and have plans for scaling up production. But there are obviously some limitations. We have some options to increase our in house production capabilities in the short term. But ideally we would like to get enough orders where we could get a run injection molded at our partner company. This would be approximately 25 orders. The lead time on that is 15 business days, but we might be able to expedite that because we have a good working relationship with this company and the ground work for this order has already been laid.

All I can say is we will do everything in our power to get track to anyone that wants it. And we will do everything we can to ship part out as quickly as possible.

Josh

MikLast 10-01-2016 22:06
Re: New Track Option
 
Do you ship to international teams? It may not apply to me personally but there are more than a few teams that are not in the intercontinental US.

TankChain 10-01-2016 22:07
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Stratis (Post 1520650)
The other option is to provide it like chain is provided - you give us certain fixed-length segments, and have a way built in to use a chain breaker to shorten them. Then rely on a single master link to join it together into a closed loop.
I agree with the concept. It is a little more complicated because the tread piece in the middle. We replace the pins in the roller chain with much longer ones that travel through the whole tread. We will add a press fit version to our R&D work.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Stratis (Post 1520650)
My bigger concern would be how it turns on normal FRC carpet (for this year, Shaw Floors, Philadelphia Commercial, Neyland II 20, 30352, “Scotch Pine”). I'd love to see a "typical" robot (30"x30" square, weighted to a total of 150 lbs) setup with this for its drive train, and driven around on FRC carpet. I've seen plenty of robots with tank treads have trouble turning during competition before!
We do have one FIRST team who already has the tracks on their robot. I will contact them and see if they are willing to post some picture / videos of their robot. I know they were still working on their robot, but they were really happy with the product. I will actually be visiting them Feb 5th, to spend the day with the school giving a presentation.

We are open to all comments and look at this as a way to improve our design.

Josh

TankChain 10-01-2016 22:12
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikLast (Post 1520663)
Do you ship to international teams? It may not apply to me personally but there are more than a few teams that are not in the intercontinental US.
We will ship to anyone that wants it. Shipping charges would apply.

Also, we are happy to use expedited shipping for anyone that wants it.

Josh

IndySam 10-01-2016 22:30
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TankChain (Post 1520655)
We manufacture the track in house and have inventory to make quite a few more tracks. Typical orders ship within 2 weeks or the order, but we shoot for having them in the mail in a 1 week turn around. We will do everything we can to ship orders ASAP because we understand that teams are working with a limited amount of time.

We are a growing company, and have plans for scaling up production. But there are obviously some limitations. We have some options to increase our in house production capabilities in the short term. But ideally we would like to get enough orders where we could get a run injection molded at our partner company. This would be approximately 25 orders. The lead time on that is 15 business days, but we might be able to expedite that because we have a good working relationship with this company and the ground work for this order has already been laid.

All I can say is we will do everything in our power to get track to anyone that wants it. And we will do everything we can to ship part out as quickly as possible.

Josh
What color gets the best turnaround time?

TankChain 10-01-2016 22:38
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by IndySam (Post 1520687)
What color gets the best turnaround time?
None of the standard color change the turn around time. However, if someone wanted periwinkle blue or another specific color it might be a little longer. haha

Black is the most popular color for industrial applications. But I get the feeling that colored options would be more popular in FIRST robotics. We can also offer an educational discount on the colored tracks.

Josh

JesseK 10-01-2016 22:39
Re: New Track Option
 
Hmm, my hobby ears are burning...

Thanks for the durometer specs! Those help a lot. I'll make sure my team gets a look at these. They will utterly love the purple...

It's tough to tell the scale of the pictures, but is it #35 or #25 chain (found the answer). How wide are the tracks?

TankChain 10-01-2016 22:43
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JesseK (Post 1520702)
Hmm, my hobby ears are burning...

Thanks for the durometer specs! Those help a lot. I'll make sure my team gets a look at these. They will utterly love the purple...

It's tough to tell the scale of the pictures, but is it #35 or #25 chain? How wide are the tracks?
I actually love the purple too. I graduated from Kansas State University and our colors are Purple and White.

If you look at the photos in the shop, there is a print with dimensions. The tracks are 3" wide and use #35 chain.

We are working on a 1.5" track using #35 track and a smaller version using #25 chain. The 1.5" track should be ready to go on sale within two weeks. But the #25 chain will be a while because we just started designing it.

Josh

KohKohPuffs 10-01-2016 22:55
Re: New Track Option
 
How was the tread manufactured? From images of the tank chain, I see layers, indicating the use of a 3D printer, or was there a different approach to this?

Also, what material is used for the treads?

arc25565 10-01-2016 22:59
Re: New Track Option
 
Do you have any videos of these treads in action? I would really like to see how they perform.

TankChain 10-01-2016 23:07
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KohKohPuffs (Post 1520717)
How was the tread manufactured? From images of the tank chain, I see layers, indicating the use of a 3D printer, or was there a different approach to this?

Also, what material is used for the treads?
The layers are actually tool marks on the mold from the machining process. The parts are molded using a Shore A Urethane rubber similar to the rubber on car tires.

Our very first mold was as polished and under the correct light you can see the tool marks from the mold. Our newer molds are more polished and you can't see any tool marks. We are always trying to improve our process.

Josh

TankChain 10-01-2016 23:13
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by arc25565 (Post 1520719)
Do you have any videos of these treads in action? I would really like to see how they perform.
We are working on getting videos on our website. We are a new company and have several customers, but don't have videos we can publish yet.

Josh

mrnoble 10-01-2016 23:18
Re: New Track Option
 
Let's say my team purchases two robots worth of tread tomorrow, as a precaution (tread is a possibility but is running in second place right now).
  1. what would be the turnaround time for delivery? And,
  2. what would be the restocking fee, if we decide that we go with (redacted) instead of tank tread?

Thanks again for all the responses!

TankChain 10-01-2016 23:24
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrnoble (Post 1520738)
Let's say my team purchases two robots worth of tread tomorrow, as a precaution (tread is a possibility but is running in second place right now).
  1. what would be the turnaround time for delivery? And,
  2. what would be the restocking fee, if we decide that we go with (redacted) instead of tank tread?

Thanks again for all the responses!
Are typical turn around time is 2 weeks, but we shoot for shipping as close to 1 week as we can.

If you order black track, and let us know you would like to cancel your order before we ship no restocking fee would apply. If we already shipped it, you would have to pay for the shipping.

Josh

arc25565 10-01-2016 23:33
Re: New Track Option
 
This track looks very interesting, the only concern I have is the turning speed of the robot. One other question, how much force can the tread withstand before it breaks.

Tom Line 10-01-2016 23:41
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by arc25565 (Post 1520751)
This track looks very interesting, the only concern I have is the turning speed of the robot. One other question, how much force can the tread withstand before it breaks.
If you have the entire tread in contact with the carpet at once..... you probably aren't turning very well. That's a drivetrain design problem, not a tread one. I'd expect you want a drop center on this the same as a 6 wheel drivetrain - if not potentially more.

TankChain 10-01-2016 23:45
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by arc25565 (Post 1520751)
This track looks very interesting, the only concern I have is the turning speed of the robot. One other question, how much force can the tread withstand before it breaks.
Good questions. Like all designs, tracks have trade offs. Turning is not the strongest part of track designs. However, the design of the treads profile has a lot to do with how the tracks perform in different situations. The taper on the side of the tread profile helps a lot with turning.

Roller chain is defined by ANSI standards. The working load for ANSI #35 roller chain is 480 pounds and the minimum tensile strength is 1760 pounds. Each section of track has two sets of chain on them. These are for standard chain and we obviously are using a modified version. But these are the most applicable numbers I have. We have not done any failure testing yet (it is on the long list). But I designed this to be a serious product and not a toy. Having a steel chain on booth sides of the track and two steel pins running through each tread mean these things take a lot to break.

Josh

mrnoble 10-01-2016 23:47
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TankChain (Post 1520745)
Are typical turn around time is 2 weeks, but we shoot for shipping as close to 1 week as we can.

If you order black track, and let us know you would like to cancel your order before we ship no restocking fee would apply. If we already shipped it, you would have to pay for the shipping.

Josh
I just sent you a message through your website. Please contact me so we can begin setting up a purchase. Thanks again for all your responses, I think you earned a customer!

TankChain 11-01-2016 00:03
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrnoble (Post 1520764)
I just sent you a message through your website. Please contact me so we can begin setting up a purchase. Thanks again for all your responses, I think you earned a customer!
Send you an email. I really appreciate all the questions. I spent a year designing this product because I could not find a solution for my own robotics projects. I released to market in November and have growing ever since. We just want to offer a quality product to people and grow our company to offer more products. I will try to answer any questions you have. The way I see it, this is a chance to let thousands of people review my design. (A little stressful to be honest). How am I doing?

Josh

mrnoble 11-01-2016 00:08
Re: New Track Option
 
So far, great. I would not have considered your product at all if a), you hadn't posted here, and b), you hadn't been so responsive to questions. Trying a new product from a new company in build season is very risky for teams, and I appreciate that you can give us a chance to test without potentially ruining a build season if things go awry.

Lil' Lavery 11-01-2016 00:08
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Line (Post 1520757)
If you have the entire tread in contact with the carpet at once..... you probably aren't turning very well. That's a drivetrain design problem, not a tread one. I'd expect you want a drop center on this the same as a 6 wheel drivetrain - if not potentially more.
To build upon this point, it's pretty easy to vary your drops/tread profile by adjusting your pulley size. Since the torque is transmitted via the tread, you (likely) don't particularly care about the axle rotation speed. This allows you to use different size pulleys (sprockets, in this case). If all your axles are mounted at the same distance from the bottom of your frame, a larger pulley in the middle would result in a "drop center" in your tread.

arc25565 11-01-2016 00:30
Re: New Track Option
 
Thank you for responding so quickly to all of our questions. If our team doesn't use this product for the competition this year i would love to use it in an off season project.

howdosheeplamp 11-01-2016 17:14
Re: New Track Option
 
This looks illegal - there is a rule against studs or anything can/could damage the carpet. Check out R6 in the game manual.

mrnoble 11-01-2016 18:09
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by howdosheeplamp (Post 1521409)
This looks illegal - there is a rule against studs or anything can/could damage the carpet. Check out R6 in the game manual.
Urethane is illegal? Wut

cglrcng 11-01-2016 18:32
Re: New Track Option
 
Nothing there that could damage the carpet, and I have used more tape on the field carpet than most the past few years repairing it.

If anything else the height of using that chain type tank tread (because each link is separate), will raise the belly pans and the most carpet damaging items (protrusions sticking down from/on the bottom of robot belly pans toward the carpet), up off the floor and away from the carpet further creating ground clearance and if used properly like designed as a tank type sprockets 2 high 2 low w/ a center slightly dropped idler wheel too, leave a much smaller footprint on the carpet so you can actually steer the thing easily.

I hope he can tool up for quicker delivery...I personally want to use it on a Non-FRC outdoor bot or 7 myself.

amesmich 11-01-2016 20:25
Re: New Track Option
 
Does this not invoke the $400 max part value just because you buy the links separate? One whole track could easily be more than $400.

MrBasse 11-01-2016 20:42
Re: New Track Option
 
With a two week turnaround, wouldn't this tread have to be considered a fabricated item and any spare tread pieces would then be required to be included in your withholding?

From page 4 of the robot section of the manual (emphasis mine):
Quote:
D. should maintain sufficient stock or production capability to fill Teams’ orders within a reasonable period during the season (less than 1 week). (Note that this criterion may not apply to custom-built items from a source that is both a VENDOR and a fabricator. For example, a VENDOR may sell flexible belting that the Team wishes to procure to use as treads on their drive system. The VENDOR cuts the belting to a custom length from standard shelf stock that is typically available, welds it into a loop to make a tread, and ships it to a Team. The fabrication of the tread takes the VENDOR two weeks. This would be considered a FABRICATED ITEM, and the two weeks ship time is acceptable.) Alternately, the Team may decide to fabricate the treads themselves. To satisfy this criterion, the VENDOR would just have to ship a length of belting from shelf stock (i.e. a COTS item) to the Team within five business days and leave the welding of the cuts to the Team.)

TankChain 11-01-2016 21:06
Re: New Track Option
 
Hello everyone,

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone. We have been swamped with emails, calls and orders. I am working on a few things that I hope will help everyone. We have ordered more raw materials so that we wont run short of raw parts.

Our very first order was actually a FIRST team and I talked with them today and they said they would send me some video of their robot and even try to make a video talking about how they went about combining the track with the FIRST kit they started with. I am amazed with them! They might even have some competition video. But I cant promise anything.

We also are working with our injection molding company to scale up fast and get bulk order made in 3 weeks. I am not sure it is possible, but I am working on the details and hope to know specifics in the next 48 hours. They could make 10,000 parts which would be a lot of kits.

We are also working with teams to provide sprockets. We are partnered with USA Roller Chain and we get a distributor rate which we can pass on to you. Our sprockets are typically about half the price of others.

Also, while it will not help this competition, we are planning a survey / questionnaire about what products to add. Would you like to see smaller track for a #25 chain, or maybe larger track for #40? What about different widths of track? Different tread profiles?

And lastly, we are planning a contest for the design of the track assembly. We have wanted to offer a more complete track assembly with tensions, boogie wheels. We encourage teams that use our track to submit the design of how they used it to us. We will pick wining deigns which we will have fabricated and offered as complete kits. There will be prizes and thank you gifts to all who enter. I am just not sure what yet.

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I have wanted to get involved with FIRST and as we grow I hope we can sponsor a few teams down the road.

As always I am happy to answer questions and help in anyway I can.
Josh

abigailthefox 11-01-2016 21:18
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by amesmich (Post 1521575)
Does this not invoke the $400 max part value just because you buy the links separate? One whole track could easily be more than $400.
Technically, I would think that it does invoke the max part value, because parts that are essential to one another are considered one item (i.e. if you buy something made of multiple parts, but that won't function correctly without all the parts, than the parts are lumped together when considering the cost of the item). That does make this a little concerning, because teams could easily require more than 10 feet of tread for their robot. Although, if you form the tread into 2+ separate treads (for each side of the robot, etc.) those could potentially be considered two separate items...with a quantity of 2 on the BOM.

Another concerning point is the manufacturing/ship time...3 weeks during build season? Even if you cut it to two or a little under, that's still 1/3 of the entire build season, and you have to account for the fact that once it arrives, assembly, testing, and possible repairs are still in order...and that's all on the technical side of things.

NShep98 11-01-2016 21:45
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by abigailthefox (Post 1521615)
Technically, I would think that it does invoke the max part value, because parts that are essential to one another are considered one item (i.e. if you buy something made of multiple parts, but that won't function correctly without all the parts, than the parts are lumped together when considering the cost of the item). That does make this a little concerning, because teams could easily require more than 10 feet of tread for their robot. Although, if you form the tread into 2+ separate treads (for each side of the robot, etc.) those could potentially be considered two separate items...with a quantity of 2 on the BOM.

Another concerning point is the manufacturing/ship time...3 weeks during build season? Even if you cut it to two or a little under, that's still 1/3 of the entire build season, and you have to account for the fact that once it arrives, assembly, testing, and possible repairs are still in order...and that's all on the technical side of things.
My understanding, being the one who wrote the BOM for my team last year, is that since the treads are sold by the foot, you would apply the listed price for a single foot, since you do not HAVE to use each foot segment together.

TankChain 13-01-2016 11:15
Re: New Track Option
 
Hello everyone,

We are getting a bulk run of parts made which should start coming out of the mold Feb 1st. Thank you all for the comments and questions. I made a new thread specific to the bulk order. You can see it here.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=141621

Any questions please let me know,

Joshua Updyke
Director of Robotics | Tank Chain Robotics
http://www.tankchain.com

Jon Stratis 13-01-2016 11:47
Re: New Track Option
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NShep98 (Post 1521628)
My understanding, being the one who wrote the BOM for my team last year, is that since the treads are sold by the foot, you would apply the listed price for a single foot, since you do not HAVE to use each foot segment together.
My understanding, as an LRI, supports this. R11 states:
Quote:
If the modules are designed to assemble into a single configuration, and the assembly is functional in only that configuration, then the total cost of the complete assembly including all modules must fit within the price constraints defined in R11.
The modules being sold here are designed to be used in multiple configurations (aka multiple tread lengths). Your specific assembly of them into what you specifically need doesn't matter. Example BOM entries would be:

Code:
Item.                          Cost.    Quantity.    Total
Tank chain started kit.        40.00.    5.            200.00
Tank chain links.              2.50.    100.          250.00

Insanityman18 14-01-2016 19:40
Re: New Track Option
 
Does anyone have a inventor supported cad file of the rhino's

TankChain 17-01-2016 20:14
Re: New Track Option
 
All,

I thought I would post a link to a video of our track system in action. The Dalton School in NY used our track on their FTC robot and sent me this brief video they had. They said they are working on a video explaining how they used the tracks with the Tetrix kit as well.

https://youtu.be/iuOcrR4hvzw

cntrl4u 20-01-2016 22:59
Re: New Track Option
 
Just got our order in from Tank Chain. Product goes together faster than you think. Product looks great and setting it up was a lot easier than a belt track. The ability to add or subtract length just by removing chain links makes the design process a lot more forgiving. The tread material really grips carpet well much better in our opinion than any of the performance wheel treads that we have used in past seasons. The true "Lug" design grabs the edges of the defenses with a lot more authority than continuous belt treads.We used Vex #35 plate sprockets for the main drive and smaller Vex sprocket with hub for the "road wheels". Makes a nice looking drive package. We welcome another progressive part supplier to the First robotics fold. Job well done on a great design. Thx Tank Chain.

TankChain 01-02-2016 14:11
Re: New Track Option
 
Hello all,

I wanted to give you a little update. I just left the injection molding company and the parts look perfect. They are flying off the machine and we are shipping orders starting today. We hope to have all our current orders shipped in a few days and will have plenty of parts left for any last minute shoppers.

I even got some video of them being made. Once I have time I will edit that and upload to YouTube.

Knufire 01-02-2016 14:16
Re: New Track Option
 
These look great. Seems like you have a great product here, and it's definitely about to be battle tested through the FRC season.

If this comes out of the season as a successful product that many teams implemented successfully, I'd suggest approaching some of the traditional FRC suppliers and seeing if they would be willing to distribute your product. Gaining a wider audience might allow you to ramp up production to the point you can drive the cost down a bit, which would definitely make this more appealing to many more teams.

A #25 chain version would probably be extremely popular as well.

TankChain 01-02-2016 14:28
Re: New Track Option
 
We actually are talking with a few vendors now. We do have plans to lower costs and expand to other sizes. We are a new company, but we really believe in the product and can't wait to grow.

Josh


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