Thread: Tank Treads
View Single Post
  #18   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 06-05-2004, 18:05
Matt Reiland's Avatar
Matt Reiland Matt Reiland is offline
'The' drive behind the drive
None #0226 (TEC CReW Hammerheads)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Rookie Year: 1999
Location: Troy Michigan
Posts: 712
Matt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Tank Treads

We have used the Green/Blue (Known as SuperGrip) Brecoflex the past 2 years and I doubt we will go with treads again next year.
Both years we have had a shifter with quite a bit of power, last year we shredded I believe 6-8 belts total mostly on the wire mesh area. In low it will spin them even up against a wall so there is a bunch of stress.
We found that it wasn't worth it for us to go with the solid core center since our tracks always ripped first at the edge inward. At the price of the solid centers you literally get twice as many with the serrated center. I have seen a bunch of new pneumatic tires that can easily provide the same amount of traction as the supergrip belts. I can bet that we will be a wheeled bot next year, probably 6 wheels that are 3-4" wide 6" diameter pneumatic. Also keep in mind the delivery on the Brecoflex is pretty terrible, usually at least 2 weeks and up to 4-5 sometimes.
If I was going to use them again I would look at the Gum Rubber and Red belt self centering.

Also I would advise against the sno-blower treads, one of our sister teams used them and it just doesn't seem like the best application for them. First, they are HEAVY, lots of steel in the assembly. Second the compund is some sort of hard rubber that has somewhat limited grip on all surfaces. The track footprint is only about 20" long. Lastly, the pulleys are HUGE, which makes it difficult to have a nice low robot. BUT, if you want premade tracks, it is an option.
__________________
Robonaut Next Generation Control System Development

2003 GLR Champions (302,67,226)
2003 Buckeye Semi-Finalists(902,494,226)
2002 Nationals QuarterFinalists
2001 West MI QuarterFinalists
2000 GLR Semi-Finalists

Last edited by Matt Reiland : 06-05-2004 at 20:17.