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Unread 29-12-2003, 13:07
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I REALLY want to be Andy Baker
FRC #1018 (RoboDevils)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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Re: Caster Mechanism

Last year we wanted a very mobile robot and planned for a 2-wheel drive with casters. I introduced the idea of HDPE "glides" instead of casters for a couple of reasons. The rounded "skids" worked very well as they slid smoothly on the carpet as well as the ramp, and we avoided any resistance due to casters having to orient the correct way and/or fighting each other "directionally". They were also large enough to span over the grid in the ramp wire mesh, therefore eliminating the bouncing we would have seen from using casters. We also needed to raise and lower the back of our robot and used the pneumatic actuation system shown below:

http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/63e9492...58G8_AwWYPomxv

This arrangement worked great, and using the large pneumatic tires we also had a significant amount of traction.
__________________
Stuart Bloom
Mechanical Engineer
Rolls-Royce Corporation
FIRST Team 1018 - Pike HS RoboDevils
My activity for 2012:
  • Boilermaker planning committee
  • Israel Head Ref - DONE (and it was FANTASTIC!)
  • Boilermaker Regional (with 1018) - DONE
  • Midwest Head Ref - DONE
  • WORLD Championships (with 1018) - DONE
  • IRI Head Ref - DONE
  • CAGE Match Head Ref

Last edited by Stu Bloom : 29-12-2003 at 13:10.