Tank Treads

[Cory]

Originally Posted by T134guy

Yes the brecoflex will cost you. But these belts are built specifically for this application. They are built to last. We are still on our first set of belts. We've gone through practice and testing, demos a competition and within the next month and a half two more. We are comfortably within the belts working limits. They are very durable belts (least the set we are using).
You really gotta look at your application and and cost benefit relation.

-Pat

They may have worked fine for you, but they really aren't built for this application. They're built for material handling, in factories, etc. We often put tons of torque through them, and much more wear than they will ever see in a factory.

I know for a fact that teams like 226 and 61 have torn multiple treads in half until they got some super reinforced version of the belts for like $300 if my memory serves me correctly.

I have heard from multiple teams that they have had to replace their treads at least every competition, especially last year with the cheese grater ramp, which adds up to a lot of money.

Personally, I think the decision to use tracks or not comes down to money, more than anything else.

[Pat Roche]

Originally Posted by Cory

They may have worked fine for you, but they really aren't built for this application. They're built for material handling, in factories, etc. We often put tons of torque through them, and much more wear than they will ever see in a factory.

I know for a fact that teams like 226 and 61 have torn multiple treads in half until they got some super reinforced version of the belts for like $300 if my memory serves me correctly.

I have heard from multiple teams that they have had to replace their treads at least every competition, especially last year with the cheese grater ramp, which adds up to a lot of money.

Personally, I think the decision to use tracks or not comes down to money, more than anything else.

I agree whole heartly in what your saying. One of the biggest things with tracks is that you need to make sure that you have attiquit(spl?) belts. I think the belts we used this year would have probably shredded last year. You have gotta match the right belt to the application. I know I've seen alot of teams use too thin of a belt (specifically brecoflex but im sure there are others) and watched it tear in half. Obviously it wasnt strong enough for the job. We used a 75mm belt. Thats a fairly wide belt that your less likely to tear. There is always the possiblity of tearing. Thats a part of the cost benefit relationship.

SO to my point i agree with you cory.

-Pat

[BillyGoats]

Originally Posted by Cory

They may have worked fine for you, but they really aren't built for this application. They're built for material handling, in factories, etc. We often put tons of torque through them, and much more wear than they will ever see in a factory.

I know for a fact that teams like 226 and 61 have torn multiple treads in half until they got some super reinforced version of the belts for like $300 if my memory serves me correctly.

I have heard from multiple teams that they have had to replace their treads at least every competition, especially last year with the cheese grater ramp, which adds up to a lot of money.

Personally, I think the decision to use tracks or not comes down to money, more than anything else.

Yeah 300 is kinda low closer to 400 i belive for a set. We have still torn those belts but the center stays connected so that its alright that the out side tore. The bad part is we would rather break a track then burn out a moter. Throught just testing automode last year and kept hitting the side the moters where really hot. We did not run with them becuase if we had to fight for the top they would not slip at all and our moters would burn out.

We just use different traction. There are four kinds. Slicks, Red Slicks (Not thick red on the track), Thick Red (Thick red on the track) and Green (The most traction you will ever need). Last year was good for the thick read. Did not mess them up. Once we tore one it sliced the red slick to peaces. This year the thick red was awsome! Great on the surface to climb!

My adivise. Dont go with the Green unless you have the solid center. Go with either the Slick Red ones or the Thick Red ones. Having a pair of just slicks is a good a idea for emergencrys.

Check out our web site at. www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/robotics

[Matt Reiland]

We have used the Green/Blue (Known as SuperGrip) Brecoflex the past 2 years and I doubt we will go with treads again next year.
Both years we have had a shifter with quite a bit of power, last year we shredded I believe 6-8 belts total mostly on the wire mesh area. In low it will spin them even up against a wall so there is a bunch of stress.
We found that it wasn't worth it for us to go with the solid core center since our tracks always ripped first at the edge inward. At the price of the solid centers you literally get twice as many with the serrated center. I have seen a bunch of new pneumatic tires that can easily provide the same amount of traction as the supergrip belts. I can bet that we will be a wheeled bot next year, probably 6 wheels that are 3-4" wide 6" diameter pneumatic. Also keep in mind the delivery on the Brecoflex is pretty terrible, usually at least 2 weeks and up to 4-5 sometimes.
If I was going to use them again I would look at the Gum Rubber and Red belt self centering.

Also I would advise against the sno-blower treads, one of our sister teams used them and it just doesn't seem like the best application for them. First, they are HEAVY, lots of steel in the assembly. Second the compund is some sort of hard rubber that has somewhat limited grip on all surfaces. The track footprint is only about 20" long. Lastly, the pulleys are HUGE, which makes it difficult to have a nice low robot. BUT, if you want premade tracks, it is an option.

[BillyGoats]

Originally Posted by Matt Reiland

We have used the Green/Blue Brecoflex the past 2 years and I doubt we will go with treads again next year.
Both years we have had a shifter with quite a bit of power, last year we shredded I believe 6-8 belts total mostly on the wire mesh area. In low it will spin them even up against a wall so there is a bunch of stress.
We found that it wasn't worth it for us to go with the solid core center since our tracks always ripped first at the edge inward. At the price of the solid centers you literally get twice as many with the serrated center. I have seen a bunch of new pneumatic tires that can easily provide the same amount of traction as the supergrip belts. I can bet that we will be a wheeled bot next year, probably 6 wheels that are 3-4" wide 6" diameter pneumatic. Also keep in mind the delivery on the Brecoflex is pretty terrible, usually at least 2 weeks and up to 4-5 sometimes.
If I was going to use them again I would look at the Gum Rubber and Red belt self centering.

If we where going to be around next year we would probily have a design simmilar to team 25's. 6 wheels like that.

The shipping we have never had a problem with tho. Always recive them within two weeks

[Pat Roche]

Its listed somewhere in this thread. They're green-blue, probably the same ones matt mentioned. They costed us $200 a piece. Another reason why belts have a tendency to rip is the tension on them. You really need to find your happy medium with them. If theyre too tight theyll rip and youll lose traction. If theyre too loose theyre can bind or crease/rip and youll loose traction. You gotta find the happy medium with them.

-Pat