pic: VEX Mecanum Concept Wheel

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Yes, I used a variable-speed drill and a file that has 4 different surfaces to file them down. They're not perfect, but to file 10 of them it took ~45 minutes.

To drill through the metal pieces it took 10 minutes since I came up with a way to do them all at once.

I bent the metal by hand so it's not exactly 45 degree, and the spacing on the rollers isn't exact either. It's a concept though, to show that it can be done.

If you have access to machine tools you can probably make a dye (or is it die?) out of steel so you can bend them all exactly 45.

[JesseK]

Unfortunately, IFI will not break up the $8 kit that comprises of the plastic (and adjustable) lock bars. To complete a single set of wheels with this design, one would have to spend $48 for these parts alone. Before those, the price per wheel would be $14 per wheel with 8 rollers.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Unfortunately, IFI will not break up the $8 kit that comprises of the plastic (and adjustable) lock bars. To complete a single set of wheels with this design, one would have to spend $48 for these parts alone. Before those, the price per wheel would be $14 per wheel with 8 rollers.

Why can't you just buy the same nylon spacers at your local hardware store? Would then only cost about $32... depending on how much each one costs. Some stores vary, the one I work at has them around $0.35 each... I can get them at about a dime a piece or less after discount.

[Chuck Glick]

Well since many people are showing their vex mecanums, I might as well show what I am up to...



The wheels are roughly the same size as the 4" wheels. Uses eight 2" lengths of vex shaft and 16 shaft collars per wheel.

I hope to have these wheels done soon.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Budda648

Why can't you just buy the same nylon spacers at your local hardware store? Would then only cost about $32... depending on how much each one costs. Some stores vary, the one I work at has them around $0.35 each... I can get them at about a dime a piece or less after discount.

He is referring to the "lock bars" that make the wheel spin with the axle, not the spacers.
Kit ($8):

http://www.vexlabs.com/vex-robotics-...it-parts.shtml

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

He is referring to the "lock bars" that make the wheel spin with the axle, not the spacers.
Kit ($8):

http://www.vexlabs.com/vex-robotics-...it-parts.shtml

Oh... heh, thanks. But Vexlabs has all metal lockbars that work 10x better and are sold in 8 or 4 packs...

[JesseK]

You could use the metal lock bars, however you'd run into a problem when lining things up with the axle since most supports are not 90 degrees to the axle. I need the plastic ones since they are adjustable.

Edit: You don't run into this problem with FRC mecanums because the axles are round whereas VEX are square.