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-   -   Reducing wheel traction (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26908)

dude__hi 19-03-2004 09:54
Reducing wheel traction
 
I am from team 842 and we have been having problems with our wheels. We used the ones that came in the kit. We need to reduce the traction, is there anything we could add to the wheels to reduce the traction between the wheels and carpet? Please respond.

sanddrag 19-03-2004 10:11
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
Go to your LHS and get some "sump pump hose" It is about $10 for 24 feet. (around here anyway) It looks like corrugated drain hose but is much softer and more flexible. Cut a slit down the side of that and zip-tie it over two of your wheels. Your robot will turn so nice you won't believe your eyes.

If you have durability problems with that you can use a sturdier "pool vacuum hose" which is a harder material but stil just as flexible. It is a bit more expensive at $1.10-2.60 per foot. This will give increased durability and forward traction over the sump pump hose but sideways traction with this material is not as good but still much better than just tires.

CyberWolf_22 19-03-2004 23:09
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
We put zip ties on our wheels.

Roland 19-03-2004 23:37
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
We cut the rubber off some 8" (I think) Skyway wheels and milled horizontal slots into the sides. They have great traction going forward, but turning from side to side is smooth as silk. I saw a lot of zip tied wheels in the regional webcasts I watched.

Gabriel 19-03-2004 23:57
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
We struggled with this problem as well.

At UTC zipties were allowed to be wrapped around the wheels, but if the robot stalls and the refs see damage to the carpet they will make you take off the zipties.

UTC Refs will also allow you to wrap tape around the wheels as a traction device but NOT as a fastener. This interpretation seems a little weird to me so I don't know if it will be allowed at every site.

Velcro is NOT allowed.

The best idea is vacuum cleaner hose, which I believe was called sump-pump hose earlier in the thread. Team 500 was generous enough to supply us with a lot of this stuff.

Remember, this will probably change your traction significantly so your driver will need a lot of practice to readjust and your autonomous mode will need to be recalibrated.

S.Nickens 26-03-2004 18:23
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dude__hi
I am from team 842 and we have been having problems with our wheels. We used the ones that came in the kit. We need to reduce the traction, is there anything we could add to the wheels to reduce the traction between the wheels and carpet? Please respond.
We tried zip ties, but we lost too much traction and could not push other bots(2 chips + 2 drills). Then we tried another idea that some others were using in Chesapeke. Cut 4 in. lengths of the green air tubing and feed the zip ties through them, and then zip them to the tires. Works pretty good and helps get you up the step easier.
It also helps reduce traction and bounce to keep your tires slightly over inflated.
Good Luck!

edomus 26-03-2004 21:32
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabriel
We struggled with this problem as well.

At UTC zipties were allowed to be wrapped around the wheels, but if the robot stalls and the refs see damage to the carpet they will make you take off the zipties.

UTC Refs will also allow you to wrap tape around the wheels as a traction device but NOT as a fastener. This interpretation seems a little weird to me so I don't know if it will be allowed at every site.

Velcro is NOT allowed.

The best idea is vacuum cleaner hose, which I believe was called sump-pump hose earlier in the thread. Team 500 was generous enough to supply us with a lot of this stuff.

Remember, this will probably change your traction significantly so your driver will need a lot of practice to readjust and your autonomous mode will need to be recalibrated.
at annapolis some teams were required to remove their zip ties

SkitzoSmurf 26-03-2004 23:21
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
Take skyway wheels, 6" I believe, drill holes in black plastic, use vaccuum hose, and zip ties, and bingo. I know that a few teams had these at the pre-season meets, and after that, EVERYONE had em.

Paradox1350 27-03-2004 00:31
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
Yeah, I reccommend the sump-pump hose. Simple, cheap, light weight, and it works. The zipties work too, but again, you could be told to remove them. That wouldn't be good.

Dan9874123 27-03-2004 10:18
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
you know what you do, you get a bottle of armor all and spray the wheels completely before each match. Thats what we did to our front wheels last year to reduce the traction.

DarkJedi613 28-03-2004 19:01
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
we had this problem early on with our 6" (5" maybe?) pneumatic tires...our robot was walking as it turned so we used two pneumatic tires and two skyway wheels...

oddly enough we burn through pneumatic tires quicker this year then we did last year...and we havent damaged a skyway wheel yet...last year we were going through them every other match...

MOEmaniac 28-03-2004 19:58
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
The problem with the armor all is that it could be considered a contaminent to the field :confused:

Solace 28-03-2004 20:05
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
not that this could really help you right now, but in the future USE 6 WHEEL DRIVE.

oreocookeee 28-03-2004 21:37
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
my team has been having the same problem with turning. the solution that we came up with at the philadelpia regional was to use tie wraps covered by pneumatic tubing. we drilled holes in the sides of two of our beadlock wheels, fed the tie wraps through a few inches of tubing, and secured them by looping them around the tires and through the holes. we figured the judges wouldnt mind them as much since the tubing is smooth and wont damage the field. they allowed it, but they also told us that putting anything over the wheels will not be allowed at championships (nats; im trying to get out of the habit of saying that). it worked alright but it is just a temporary fix and we will probably consider replacing our wheels or something.

MrToast 29-03-2004 08:03
Re: Reducing wheel traction
 
Wrap the wheels in duct tape. It's cheaper than pool hose... :D


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