andy mark wheels delay
 

http://andymark.biz/


ATTENTION FIRST teams
All 2009 FIRST Slick Wheels (aka Rover Wheels) orders will wait for shipment until January 12. We are sorry for this inconvenience and will have many more wheels very soon.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

We were hoping to build our trailer by the end of this week. I guess not. :ahh:

Seems like the demand of this year's game is creating a lot of supply issues.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

I'd like to reference a response to another post by Andy Baker.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ighlight=rover

So, all is not lost, you can still make a trailer.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

This will be a huge setback for us!:mad: We had planned on receiving our wheels today. We want to try the wheels on last years bot on regolith so we can finalize our drive-train design. Having to wait another week kills a whole week from the build schedule. We will have to try something else.:(

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

We built our own wheels last night out of HDPE. We cut out blocks 6"x6" 1/2 inch thick. We lathed them down and put 3 together to make the wheels for the trailer. We are building 2 trailers and had the wheels taken care of within an hour.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Unfortunately there are many MANY teams out there with no access to machine tools.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

We ordered more wheels and some cims from AndyMark monday morning, and received them tuesday by like 11am...we selected ground shipping...

guess it pays to order early then

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

222 placed our order the day of kickoff....

We already have our order.:D

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

why did first not just give us six wheels, what were they thinking? and why did andy mark not anticipate so many rover wheels needing to be bought?

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

The better question is why no one seems to have anticipated the large demand for these wheels and game pieces that only have one source.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

All,

We are in process of molding more wheels. We are shooting to have these wheels ready to ship out on Monday.

Sincerely,
Andy Baker

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Maybe, just maybe, they couldn't make enough fast enough.

Imagine this possible scenario: AM hears about the need for X product from FIRST in December. They are asked to supply Y number of X product for the KOP and some extra. Possibly they do not know that this is the ONLY legal traction product, or that they need a lot more of it. They make some extra (say a couple of hundred) before Christmas, when they shut down for a week or so. At Kickoff, they find that hey, this is the only legal traction product, and they have to start the process at full speed from a standstill. But, teams are already pounding at their door demanding these wheels.

And maybe it takes a couple of weeks to start the process.

In the meantime, Andy has given a temporary workaround. Use it until you can get your order.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Please note that the rules say a VENDOR should be able to ship product within 5 business days. AndyMark is meeting that. Also the rules mention this may not be possible if there is a sudden influx of orders.

As for why only 4 per kit, most likely because that's the minimum number needed for your robot. (Yes, you can make a tricycle, but ...)

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

If nothing else this game is teaching me patience is a virtue :)

Maybe they are trying to get us to be more self sufficient (ie making our own wheels and balls!!) Imagine that... a world of people who can think outside the box instead of just complain about supplier issues... :D (Kudos to those that have made wheels & came up with the ball redesign!!)

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

If you have a lathe you can easily turn your own out of hard plastic (like delrin). It would be good enough for a trailer.


We put some 6" AM omnis on our trailer. I'm not sure how well this mimics using the real wheels, but it offered virtually no resistance to sideways or forward movement.

There are always alternatives.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Where do we get a strip of Acetal Plastic From ? Local store ? Home Depot, Lowe's , ...others ?

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Delrin is a brand name of Acetal Plastic.

http://www.professionalplastics.com/DELRINSHEET-ROD

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Thanks Andy. Sounds good.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

McMaster-Carr has 1" strips of Acetal plastic that is 0.04" thick, part number 8738K16.

Andy B.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

yes but what I am saying is why did first not put six wheels in the kop, it would have been an additional $40 on our $6000 plus other regionals. and in your scenario why didnt they tell AM like in october so he would be ready?

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

We ordered Saturday of kickoff, and our wheels arrived today! Fast shipping Andy, your wheels arrived before our kit of parts! :ahh:

Playing with these wheels for the first time, I'm quite excited about them!

Wetzel

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

We just received 8 wheels today. We only need 4 right away so if any Indy area teams need some for this weekend and want to pick up 4 tonight or Saturday and then replace them when their order comes in send me a PM.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Your $6000 doesn't come close to the cost of the kit + your first regional. It may have been nice to see 6 in the kit, but for the time being it would be good to just be patient and slide around priorities. Work on prototyping / designing ball mechanisms or bench test 1/2 your drive train with the wheels you do have. You can draw some relatively solid conclusions with some simple tests with half a drive train. Or do as we did, watch some of the videos people who have more.

At the very worst you could do as Andy suggested and order the thin strips you will be able to test the goals with this, and it won't have to replace them as its just testing for your goals.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

I'd have to agree on this one.
If the KOP had 6 wheels to begin with, every team wouldn't be in a position to all order at the same time, and all having to need more.
With other parts in the kit in the past, we have been able to either trade with a fellow team, or borrow them until our items came in. But in this case, there is no way you can borrow wheels unless a team had a 3 wheel or less bot? hehe.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Rats! We tried to order last night and they declined to take our order. I guess we have to wait till Monday to order.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Since there is a wheel shortage does anyone see a down side to using casters for testing the trailer? Would it make much of a difference from the real trailer that will be provided at the game?:confused:

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

I hear ya. Probably not ideal, but better than waiting around. At least you can test drive a robot with it on to get a feel for the driving.

Re: andy mark wheels delay
 

Ah, so that's the orange glow coming from Kokomo...:D