pic: Team 2220 Blue Twilight Octocanum Offseason Project

[cadandcookies]

One comment I would make is with the sprockets chaining the traction wheel and mecanum together, did you pick the wheel separation distance to ensure an even number of chain links? It is a bit harder to put the modules together under tension, but never worrying about throwing a belt or chain is great.

Yes! We saw the multitude of posts on that subject and ensured that we were spacing the sprockets at a multiplier of the pitch for #25 chain (.25").

If you have decided, can you tell us why you decided on the placement of the traction wheels on the inside or outside. I think there are a few obvious pros and cons to each, but would like to hear your view on it.

The current plan is to have the traction wheels on the outside. The primary reason has a lot to do with one of out mentors, who is pushing us to develop this for the 2014 season (which may or may not make sense). Our primary rationale was that, in a competition bot, one of the main benefits we wanted from octocanum was the ability to go in a very straight line without too much feedback correction (for autonomous mode). The main thing we were weighing this benefit against was being able to use a single piston on each side to actuate.

Are you using threaded rod as an axle for the traction wheel?

No, we're using 1/2-20 Grade 8 steel cap screws. We've used them on previous robots with much success-- we haven't managed to bend one in competition yet. We're still running our 2012 competition bot on the same bolts we used for our two regionals, plus championships and several demos and off-season events.