6wd - chain path revisited

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by 1680Bruce

One more possibility would be to omit the tensioners at all.

Use a live center axle

If you use sprockets with an even tooth count and space them an even multiple of the chain pitch apart in a single drive/driven configuration you would be able to keep it really simple.

If the chain stretches enough to need tensioning throw it out.

It's really not worth losing the chance to go to Atlana for a couple of bucks worth of streched chain.

You also don't need the extra hardware needed for tensioning to complicate things as well.

(in the dark, on carpet ... with a ref asking you if you can continue. been there ... unfortunately done that... GTR finals 05)

If your team attends multiple competitions, it's a lot cheaper and more robust to just use a chain tensioner than to constantly keep replacing roller chain because it stretched.

Personally, I love robot drive trains that once they are designed, built, and assembled, you can more or less forget about them. (As opposed to constantly tweaking them between matches.) Nothing is better than going to a competition, getting through inspection Thursday morning, and relaxing in the pits between matches, because nothing broke or needs to be replaced.