Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

When I first saw these wheels in Nov. I was amazed at the extreme light weight of them. They also have a really big "coolfactor".

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

[joke]I'd pick whatever Dave's picking, in the hopes that he's figured out how to turn one into a boat propeller.[/joke]

Seriously, though if I were presented with those four options in a game similar to recent years, where we haven't had to climb over a six-inch wall or anything, I'd pick the 6" with a bore for bearings. (That said, I'm being ridiculously cost-conscious as I plot and scheme this year; $59 each inclines me towards mixing them with Skyways as insurance in case my driver pulls a 1902 and flies off the ramp.)

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

I'm thinking a 1/2" round bore would be useful. Some teams like to run 1/2" keyed shaft. You can always go bigger, but not easiy go smaller.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

Also just for people FYI you can get 3/8 bearings that have an od of 1.125 so these would be capiable of use with the kit frame.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

I like the 8" Performance Wheel w/ 1/2" hex hole.

We could bore it to 5/8" and key it.

We would run 2 - 8" Trick Wheel (aluminum body) and 2 - 8" Performance Wheel

Hoping for the 8" Performance Wheel w/ 1/2" hex hole.

Thanks for all the good Products Andy and Mark

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

You could do it on a drill press if you were very careful. Even if you weren't all that careful, you could get close enough that it'd still work.

Assuming you have a drillpress--chuck up a length of 1/2" hex shaft. Slide wheel onto shaft, and clamp in place on the table. Unchuck the hex shaft, get out your drill, and have at it.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

Ok these wheels are nothing compared to what you can have done if you get help from a machinist who will do work for discount. You can have any pattern on your wheels or even yes we have wanted to try it spinners. I am sorry to say we won't have them this year. Our wheels will be 6 in dia and 2 in wide and only weigh .6 lbs.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

This is true. However, I think you're ignoring the opportunity costs involved. I could get a machinist to do wheels for me, but I could also have them fabricating parts for my Super-Secret Widget of Graciously Professional Doom. If I had the funds to get the AndyMarks and they did what I needed to do, then why not order them and save some time and wear on my machinist? (Just as it's often easier to get a $250 donation than a $25,000 one, it's often easier to get someone to do "just some quick drilling" as opposed to "mill these 42 wheels with this intricate pattern".)

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

I see it like this. With AndyMark, you aren't just buying robot parts, you're buying time. And last time I checked, time is a difficult thing to find more of.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

You're also selling away the experience of doing it for yourself. I guess it depends on what your goals and values are.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

For many teams, it is not a matter of goals or values, but rather resources. They want to compete against teams who have these resources, so we are offering that opportunity.

-----

Update:

1. Give me another day or two to decide if we will do 8" versions of this wheel
2. For the finished product, we are having some deburring issues, so they are being tumbled. Therefore, the final finish is not as shiny. Of course, teams can buff these up as they wish. <edit... this is now not the case... we will not be tumbling these wheels... they will be sent out with a milled shiny surface, but there may be a few sharp corners>

Andy B.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

Just playing devil's advocate..

I usually vouch to buy as many off the shelf components as possible, but I know many people who are opposed to this idea and its place in this (what they believe to be educational) program. Many of these people have little to no voice on these forums.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

Andy,
I hope you can make the 8" wheels.
For us, it is about saving time. Its true that there is value in building your own, but not at the expense of time for us. There are some parts that we can make but others we just dont have the time and resources for. We have students make a few things and as time runs out, we help them along the way. The goal is to have them build as much as possible.
Our team robots have consistently been about 90% student built and 10% mentor assisted.

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

Any chance in the more distant future we may see performance wheels with different tread sizes as well?

Re: AndyMark Performance Wheels
 

If the distant future means for the 2008 season, then maybe. We are definitely not ready for various widths for 2007. So... no for 2007.

Andy