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Unread 18-01-2012, 07:57
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ToddF ToddF is offline
mechanical engineer
AKA: Todd Ferrante
FRC #2363 (Triple Helix)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: Newport News, VA
Posts: 599
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Re: Mecanum wheel wobble (not runout)

We used the 6 inch wheels last year, and had similar issues. We got our order for wheels in just a little late, and the lightweight wheels were sold out. We bought a set of the heavy duty wheels while the lightweight ones were on backorder. We used the heavy ones for development with no problems, and swapped the lightweight ones in when they arrived. Since they had already done one set of wheels, I left our rookie kids to assemble and install the lightweight wheels when they arrived, with little supervision. When everything was installed, they were so wobbly they wouldn't turn without hitting neighboring support structure.

Fixing the wobble involved loosening screws, racking the wheels straight by hand, and retightening, and then doing that again and again until they stayed straight. It took hours, and we never got them to run perfectly true. They were straight enough to function, though.

My advise would be: if your support structure give you enough clearance, test them with the wobble. If they work, put fixing the wobble at the bottom of your list of priorities. Then, when someone doesn't have something to do, and is goofing around, assign that person to true up the wheels.
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Last edited by ToddF : 18-01-2012 at 07:59.