Drive Trains & All that they encompass

[Billfred]

1) What wheels do you prefer After experience with the HiGrip wheels AndyMark puts in the kit, we're inclined to keep using them!
1a) What kind of challenge/obstacle prompts a certain wheel choice A specific need for some size or traction property. If it were a game that required every last bit of traction, we may go back to roughtop tread. If we had another game like Breakaway with a lot of really hard whacks, we may go pneumatic.
1b) What kind of wheel would you use if you had a low budget (aka can't afford $1,000+ on swerves)The AndyMark HiGrip wheels. They're in the kit!
1c) How do you personally choose what size wheel you prefer? Depends on the kit's offerings, desired speed, and the obstacles on the field. Cost is also a factor--if a 6" wheel is in the kit and gets us in our speed range, we're not going to drop big money on 4" wheels.

2) What do you make your drive train out of? (Base train, custom, 80/20, etc) Three of our four drivetrains are C-Base derivatives (we never quite build them to spec). Our 2010 robot was totally custom on the frame, but our expertise there graduated.

3) What gearboxes do you use for your motors, and why? We've used the AndyMark CIMple Box the past two seasons (and the Toughbox in 2009, but that was Lunacy and doesn't usually count).
3a) Do you use shifters? Why? We used shifters on 1618 a couple of times, and in 2010 (which, in hindsight, was a touch overkill). Recent years haven't made their necessity as obvious.

4) What kind of wheel setup do you choose? (4 wheels, 6 w/ 2 dropped, etc etc) All years except 2009 (again, Lunacy), we used a 6WD with dropped center.

5) How much time do you normally spend building your drivetrain?We normally get it together in a week or less mechanically. Electrical, programming, and other systems may influence when we turn it on and drive around.

6) Do you prefer to use belt or chain? Why? Chain every single year. Belt requires a lot more precision of fabrication, sometimes more than we have, and it makes it trickier to adjust gearing if we need it.
6a) What would prompt using one over another? The only thing that may change us over is the coming switch in the kitbot. Even then, we may go chain if we don't like the speeds the kitbot offers.

7) Generally, long robot, wide robot, or it depends on the game? Depends on the game. When a ball intake is needed, generally wide. When it's an arm game, long. But there are no hard and fast rules, especially if the field offers some obstacle.

[ttldomination]

1) What wheels do you prefer

I suppose I'd like to have three wheels in my back pocket.
Roughtop - If the field is all carpet, bam.
HiGrip - If the field is part carpet and part slick surface (like this year), mix these with roughtops.
Pneumatic - If a game is especially rough on the DT, then perhaps Pneumo would be something to consider.

1a) What kind of challenge/obstacle prompts a certain wheel choice

Kind of went into with 1.

1b) What kind of wheel would you use if you had a low budget (aka can't afford $1,000+ on
swerves)

I'd go with HiGrip (AM KOP) or Plaction Roughtop. Either way, wheels can often be used and serve as a good investment.

1c) How do you personally choose what size wheel you prefer?

We try to stay in the 6" range, but this is very game related.

2) What do you make your drive train out of? (Base train, custom, 80/20, etc)

We're using 8020 but I can see that its days are numbered. Most likely we will see a shift from 8020 to tubing in the next couple of years, provided we gain the required resources.

3) What gearboxes do you use for your motors, and why?

Toughboxes, and probably going to Toughbox minis this year.

3a) Do you use shifters? Why?

I think shifters do not make or break a robot, and I don't think anyone on the team is willing to drop the money to purchase one. If we work up the courage/budget to build/buy one, then we'll consider it, but for now, no one seems into it.

4) What kind of wheel setup do you choose? (4 wheels, 6 w/ 2 dropped, etc etc)

I just moved onto a new team, and they've had a ride when it comes to wheels (mecanum, 6wd, etc.). However, I think we've settled on your average 6wd-8wd DT hoping that the game isn't anything terrible.

5) How much time do you normally spend building your drivetrain?

This depends on how prepared you are going into the season. A well prepared team (as I hope we can be) will often get it done in a week. Others (as my team has been in the past), might take upwards of 2-3 weeks to get done.

6) Do you prefer to use belt or chain? Why?

We use chain, however, I've heard that belting is better (more efficient). Up until now, there isn't a terribly easy way to do belting, at least a way that doesn't require some form of machining. However, with the inclusion of belts in the KOP, we'll have to see what kind of hardware AM offers.

6a) What would prompt using one over another?

I'd say that weight, belting profile, and available hardware. It all depends on if we like what we see coming from AM.

7) Generally, long robot, wide robot, or it depends on the game?

I'd say it depends on the game, but one method won't kill you. As Billfred said, anything that has to do with massive ball intake, wider is better, but I've seen long orientation teams roll with the best of them.

- Sunny G.