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Unread 14-01-2008, 12:18
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Billfred Billfred is offline
...and you can't! teach! that!
FRC #5402 (Iron Kings); no team (AndyMark)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: The Land of the Kokomese, IN
Posts: 8,507
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Re: Andy Mark Traction Wheels?

Neither my past nor present teams have used the AM Traction Wheels, but I can provide a bit of insight.

Pretty much every wheel sold with the intention of going on an FRC robot will have the same 1.875" bolt circle you see in the kit wheels. I believe that between AndyMark and IFI, the only oddball is the AndyMark Trick Wheel (which you probably should be skipping over if you're looking for omniwheels anyway, as AndyMark has since released other models with many improvements).

Last season, the Capitals took a different route and chose to skin the kit wheels and add on the tread that is used on the AM Traction (and AM Performance, and IFI) wheels. We took the wheels to the bandsaw and cut away the gray tread; you can see the result here. From there, we riveted on incline conveyor belting (search mcmaster.com) cut to fit the wheels. Finished diameter was about 5.5", and for far less than buying other wheels. While I don't generally enjoy taking business from AndyMark--they're good people who make good product--the cost savings are hard for us to pass, especially with the improvements to the 2008 kit wheels. (For reference, the 2007 wheels held up fine for us; after Palmetto, BE, and a few demos, we're just now almost to the point of needing to replace some tread.)
__________________
William "Billfred" Leverette - Gamecock/Jessica Boucher victim/Marketing & Sales Specialist at AndyMark

2004-2006: FRC 1293 (D5 Robotics) - Student, Mentor, Coach
2007-2009: FRC 1618 (Capital Robotics) - Mentor, Coach
2009-2013: FRC 2815 (Los Pollos Locos) - Mentor, Coach - Palmetto '09, Peachtree '11, Palmetto '11, Palmetto '12
2010: FRC 1398 (Keenan Robo-Raiders) - Mentor - Palmetto '10
2014-2016: FRC 4901 (Garnet Squadron) - Co-Founder and Head Bot Coach - Orlando '14, SCRIW '16
2017-: FRC 5402 (Iron Kings) - Mentor

93 events (more than will fit in a ChiefDelphi signature), 13 seasons, over 60,000 miles, and still on a mission from Bob.

Rule #1: Do not die. Rule #2: Be respectful. Rule #3: Be safe. Rule #4: Follow the handbook.

Last edited by Billfred : 14-01-2008 at 12:21.