Chain Drive Question

[ahecht]

I'll add in another plug for the adjustable sprocket-box that 190 has used the past few years:



The black line is the chain, the two larger sprockets are idlers, and the smaller sprocket is attached to the motor. On the bottom of the image, you can see the chain returning. By tightening or loosening the bolt, we can adjust the tension. Also, this design assures that we have a full 180 degrees of wrap around the motor's sprocket (this image isn's quite accurate).

The other nice thing is that by flipping this design around on the other side of the robot, and driving the lower part of the chain, we can have both motors driving in the same direction when we drive forward:

EDIT: Just to clarify, on each side, there are two identical lexan plates, one on either side of the sprocket. Therefore the adjustable sprocket is actually supported by two bolts, which need to be adjusted together.