We would like to explore the use of a single wheel pitching machine, but our team lacks the ability for most custom machining and fabrication. Can anyone suggest an off-the-shelf component to serve as the wheel?
We believe that the wheel should have substantial mass (for angular momentum) so that the speed of the wheel is not greatly diminished with every throw. So, we were thinking about using an aluminum hub wheel with flat polyurethane tread such as this one
http://www.greatlakescaster.com/colson_caster_corporation______10_x_3_polyurethane _on_aluminum_core_wheel-7.00010.976.php
This 10 inch wheel may be a bit large, but you get the idea.
Are we on the right track? Can you suggest an alternative?
We may also design the pitching machine to allow for a separate flywheel. This way, we could tune the momentum of the wheel.
Thanks!
Tinkerer math = engineer - MikeE [more] 
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