Rookie Team's Needing Help!!!

[nyu500]

We finished our wheel base and things like that, but I was curious to know if anyone knew how to make sticky wheels (I'm not exactly sure but I know they are homemade with various chemicals). We were also wondering if anyone knew of a site that sells fabric cheaply and what type of fabric we should use to cover our borders. Same with floaties, we can't seem to find any inexpensive ones.

[sdcantrell56]

As for wheels the best thing to do if you are using the kit ones is to lathe or sand the wheels down flat and then screw on roughtop conveyor tread from mcmaster. You can also glue the tread on if it helps. Just be careful you don't have too much traction particularly if you are 4 wheel drive because it will be really hard to turn.

[Kyle]

First welcome to CD and to FIRST.

Here are some online sites to buy pool noodles or you could go to your local pool store or WalMart or Kmart to buy some
http://www.poolcenter.com/pooltoys_n...water_logs.htm
http://www.9thtee.com/pooltoys.htm
http://pooltoy.com/waternoodle.html

The fabric can be bought at any arts and craft store and you can even find your teams colors or buy white fabric and dye it your teams colors.

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by nyu500

We finished our wheel base and things like that, but I was curious to know if anyone knew how to make sticky wheels (I'm not exactly sure but I know they are homemade with various chemicals). We were also wondering if anyone knew of a site that sells fabric cheaply and what type of fabric we should use to cover our borders. Same with floaties, we can't seem to find any inexpensive ones.

1) "Sticky" wheels. Check manual section 8 rule 34... "Gaining traction by using adhesives or Velcro-like fastener material is not
allowed." Presumably you are just looking for a way to have a soft, high-friction tread for your robot, not something actively sticky. The wheels in the kit are good in this regard, however you may wish to check with IFIRobotics.com and andymark.biz for some tread ideas that other FIRST teams have had success with. Be careful that you test your robot on carpet, not just a shop floor. If you have TOO MUCH traction, you may not be able to turn efficiently.

2) Fabric: by "borders", I presume you mean "bumpers". Check a few rules down in Rule 37 and you find that 1000 Denier Cordura Plus is the recommended fabric. Other sturdy rip-stop nylon fabrics may be used, but the heavy duty cordura is recommended for a reason. I am sure if you ask around your community someone will be able to point you towards a fabric store that can help you, but if not, try googling "cordura"... you might find a list like this: http://lycraprl.invista.com/public_r...BrandAll =All

3) Pool noodles can be found on-line (try searching Chief Delphi, I believe some sources were mentioned last year) or trying "google". As for cheap ones, ask at nearby aquatic centres. I found some for $1.99 at Canadian Tire last year... but that probably doesn't help you a lot, eh?

Good luck,

Jason