Thread: Chain contacting BUMP
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Unread 21-01-2010, 08:13
RRLedford RRLedford is offline
FTC 3507 Robo Theosis -- FRC 3135
AKA: Dick Ledford
FRC #3135 (Robotic Colonels)
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Re: Chain contacting BUMP
Whether you have a chain or a belt, a tensioning idler scheme is HIGHLY advised, so why not place this in the middle underside of the chain/belt wrap, pulling upward there to help clear bump corners? This way it handles two issues for you - carpet protection and keeping chain/belt taught, yet yielding to overloads.
BTW, the EXTREME linear tension stress levels developed when a taught, no-idler chain/belt gets bashed in the middle by the bump corners at high speed is a great way to break them, and/or some other weaker component in your drive system. We are talking as much 100-fold type of leverage here when a 90 degree force hits a chain/belt under full tension with no elasticity provided by an idler mechanism.

-RRLedford
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