Sprocket for Bike Chain...

[Dr Fritz]

My team wanted to use bike chains this year instead of the chains included in the KOP. I was wondering what teams have used bike chains and what sprockets and other hardware was used.
Thank you

[Justin Stiltner]

I have not used bike chain, however I would encourage you to look into #25 chain which is similar in size but not compatible with bike chain.

[Retired Starman]

My team was very successful using bicycle chain on our arm last year. I went to a bike shop, got the shop to "sponsor" us and give us some old sprockets from their used parts pile. They come with holes for mounting, but no hub, so I cut aluminum disks to bolt onto the sprockets, them machined a hub to attach them to the axles.

I use machinable shaft collars from McMaster-Carr to make easy hubs. I bore them out to the shaft size, then drilled and tapped a couple of holes to attach to the disk I'd mounted the sprocket on.

Bicycle sprockets come in a large range of sizes, are much lighter than 25 or 35 size chain sprockets, are pretty strong (don't know how they would do on a drive system), and easy to come by.

Dr. Bob

Chairman's Award is not about building the robot. Every team builds a robot.

[Matt H.]

I think the best place to get bike sprockets if off of old bicycles. It's cheap and good for the environment.

Just a word of warning. Some robotics hobbyists, who use bike chain, have noted that it derails more easily than normal chain. Which is good on your 20 speed bike but very very bad on your competition robot.

[DonRotolo]

#25 chain has about a 1/4" (0.25") pitch
#35 chain has about 3/8" pitch
Bicycle chain has 1/2" pitch. It is about the size of #35 but lighter.

Any of these have sufficient strength for what you're likely to do with it.

Bike sprockets come from bikes, but there are other 'sports' that use bike chain.