Optimum Wheels for ball shooter

[Bruceb]

Where do you get the urethane and what exactly does a person need to buy to do this?
Bruce

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Bruceb

Where do you get the urethane and what exactly does a person need to buy to do this?
Bruce

For us, urethane and silicone are purchased from a local distributor of Smooth On products in Boston. http://www.smooth-on.com/

You just need some basic framing supplies, wood, nails, screws and a vacuum pump to do it correctly. A lot of the videos on Smooth On's site are pretty useful for beginners. The big thing will be the mold. I have access to a 3D printer so I am able to make life easier that way. You don't need one though. You can just as easily use a piece of PVC pipe, or some other round object if you are molding tread around a wheel.

We're going to mold in a V-shape which is why we will be using the 3D printed mold. However you can accomplish the same thing by using clay with the PVC pipe or other round piece.

If you are really interested in doing it feel free to PM me or do a couple searches on here. A couple teams have had great success doing this kind of stuff.

-Brando

[Bruceb]

Can you tell me what urethane product you are using. Read about some of them but it is very confusing. If you have had success with one of them could you please share?
THanks
Bruce

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Bruceb

Can you tell me what urethane product you are using. Read about some of them but it is very confusing. If you have had success with one of them could you please share?
THanks
Bruce

I've had great success with the MoldMax and Task series of materials in the past. The Task series is a urethane plastic, which won't work for our application of tread, we want a urethane rubber. For that, we are either going to use the VytaFlex series or the PMC-770.

If you have to make the actual mold, I would definitely recommend any of the MoldMax-es. My general go-to is the MoldMax 30.

-Brando