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Unread 05-04-2010, 01:39
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VEX Robotics Engineer
AKA: Arthur Dutra IV; NERD #18
FRC #0148 (Robowranglers)
Team Role: Engineer
 
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Re: Chain Tensioning

Quote:
Originally Posted by RMS11 View Post
Did you all lasercut that yourselves? How did you decide how big it needed to be and other design decisions? We use 25 chain so we cant use mcmasters. Thanks!
They were milled on a CNC machine; you can't laser cut polycarbonate.

As for design decisions, we just made a bunch of different sizes. To tension the chain, simply pop the floating idler sprocket out and move it closer toward one of the driving/driven sprockets. You may have to readjust the idler position somewhat frequently as the chain breaks in, but once the chain finishes stretching you can leave the floating sprockets in the same position for the rest of the season.

If you don't have [access to] a CNC machine, you can always just get plastic (nylon) sprockets and use them as floating idlers.
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Art Dutra IV
Robotics Engineer, VEX Robotics, Inc., a subsidiary of Innovation First International (IFI)
Robowranglers Team 148 | GUS Robotics Team 228 (Alumni) | Rho Beta Epsilon (Alumni) | @arthurdutra

世上无难事,只怕有心人.