View Single Post
  #18   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 10-12-2007, 15:38
ConKbot of Doom ConKbot of Doom is offline
Team Alumni
FRC #1184 (Cobra Robotics)
Team Role: Leadership
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 153
ConKbot of Doom has a spectacular aura aboutConKbot of Doom has a spectacular aura aboutConKbot of Doom has a spectacular aura about
Re: Position idlers to get better chain wrap -- a question about good practices.

I'm a fan of having 2 separate chain loops, one for front one for rear, it gives a lot of engagement on all the sprockets, and provides redundancy in the event of losing a chain. We had another robot run on top of us in 2005, and bend our front axles enough that one of our chains came off. But as long as we were flat on the ground (and not tipping forward like it liked to so so much) control was not hindered much at all.

If you have a metal idler sprocket, then you still have 4 sprockets for each side, so any weight savings from having the single loop should be minimum. We used sliding axle mounting blocks for tensioning, each one with at least 6 socket head cap screws to hold it in place in the frame rail
__________________
2005 Philly #1 seeded team, highest average points, and semi-finalists
Thanks to 103 and 484 for being alliance mates.