belt drive/tank treads
 

hey guys, got a question.

for all of the teams that have utilized a tank tread design on their robots, where did you get the tread? did you have to order it, or make it yourself? i'm finding that it is INCREDIBLY hard to find decent rubber treads (or anything for that matter). im looking for something like 980 had two seasons ago (i'd give a picture but i can't scan my brain. sory guys).

thanks

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

980 didn't use treads in 2003. Perhaps you're thinking of another team?

You can buy timing belts with numerous different backings from www.brecoflex.com Lead time can be quite long, and they are very expensive.

The stuff 980 and countless other teams have used on their wheels is wedgetop conveyor belting, available from McMaster.com. It's not going to work as an actual tank tread though--just a traction material for your wheels.

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

ah. i see. maybe 981? honestly, i cant remember anymore. still, im talking 2004 though, two seasons ago.

im familiar with the compresed neoprene and rubber strips used for traction on wheels, but tank treads? i swear ive seen teams use them. any idea where to get anything similar (and please dont say synchronous or double sided timing belts. ill go crazy. i promise).

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

Two words: Breco flex. There Belts are amazing a little expensive but you can't beat them. Another thing I would like to add if you doing a belt drive spend the money on good belts it's worth it trust me, Bad belts are the worst thing. Breco Flex has many models of belts that you can chose from. www.Breco Flex .com :] My Team 1251 used belts not breco flex but we got a pretty good system going so check our bot out. :) http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...techtigers+bot

My two cents,
-Drew
1251 The Tech Tigers
"We even bleed Orange"

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

This is a picture of the best close up of our treads from 2004 and then Cyber Blue 234's finished robot. We found these treads at http://www.thistle.uk.com. They worked amazingly well for us. We could shoot up the 6 inch step without any problems.

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

Dave that my man is how you do treads right there. Thanks for posting the great pictures. :] One of my favorite all time bots right there. Cyber blue rocks a model bot and model team right there. Definitely study that example right there for tank treads. The v belt system is awesome definitely use it, the belts will tend to track off if you don't. We learned that from experience.

Well done,
-Drew
Tech tigers 1251

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

Team 180 has used treads for most of it's existence.

Brecoflex is the way to go, if you want treads.

They aren't cheap, but they can be made to any length that you want.

We have tried several different backings, but the green and blue diamond patterns (I have no idea what they are really called) give very good traction.

On our 2002 robot, Fluffy, we saw a 2.0 coefficient of traction. In other words, our little 130 lb robot pushed with 260 lbs of force. It worked quite well at dragging opponents and goals around the field.

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

Having gone against Fluffy at Nationals that year, with my old team (201), I can testify to its toughness. They were the only team that could outpush mine, and they did it not once, not twice, but 3 times. That tread was the best stuff I've ever seen.

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

The other nice thing about the brecoflex belts is that they dont tear easily. They can really take a beating because inside of some the belts there is a steal ribbon. This gives them a very long service life on the field. In 2004 we made it through one regional and four offseason competition's on the same set of belts.

-Pat

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

Brecoflex has Team 48's vote!

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

I seem to remember 226 tearing a whole ton of belts in 2003(?), even the reinforced ones, which I believe they said they paid something like $400 a pop for.

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

We(team 61) have had great success with treads from brecoflex.. the past 3 years we have not ripped more then 2 all season… which is awesome. brecoflex is the best way to go.. if you have questions drop Mike Norton a PM he has all the answers when it comes to brecoflex

Feel free to stop by out web site http://www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/Robotics

Lots of pictures

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

Hmm interesting...from my experiences with brecoflex(reinforced only) it is quite strechty because of the pvc like material and steel reinforcement that its made of...I wonder if the belts were too tight or if the grating ripped them...very interesting, I'd def like to hear more about this problem they had.

I guess i should say that under normal carpet driving conditions they are extremely durable. Good catch.

-Pat

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

http://www.fnsheppard.com/index.htm

offers the same things as brecoflex, but their lead time is significantly shorter for machining the pulleys. They are slightly more expensive, but time is money.

Re: belt drive/tank treads
 

these are not the "re-enforced ones" and this is what we do to them.. we did not rip one re-enforced one this year...