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#1
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
Thanks for the info, Though my gut said #35 chain, my skill set has always been electrical/programming and thus wanted to make sure. To bad we don't have a mechanic/engineer to confirm what I thought this year.
As for the tensioner I think we are going with artdutra04 idea. Alas we do not have access to a mill and this might be the best route. Thanks |
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#2
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
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#3
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
the chain doesn't eat the HDPE away?
The reason I ask is because the chain ate away a good half inch into our robot when some bolts rattled loose on a pneumatic tire, causing it to expand and push the sprocket (and thus, chain) into the frame. |
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#4
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
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#35 is far more forgiving, but heavier. |
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#5
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
Not any appreciable amount over the course of a competition season.
If you use softer or lower density plastics, the roller chain will start eating away the plastic rather quickly. But the High Density property of HDPE is great to act as a low-friction surface for the roller chain, without being eaten away. On our previous robots, after four or five competitions, all we'd notice on our chain tensioners would be a two small grooves about 1/16" of an inch deep. |
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#6
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
Best not to go with Chain tensioner it is more friction and more work for your CIMS. Just make the chain as tight as possible and don't worry if it take you a full day to mount the wheels. It is one of the most important parts.
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#7
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
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Any properly designed chain tensioner will not rob your drive of any power. Every drivetrain should have some provision for tensioning chain. If you don't, it will eventually stretch enough to be too loose, even if you calculated the exact center-center distance to allow you to use a whole number of links. |
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#8
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
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#9
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
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However, will it really exaggerate itself over the 3-9 days that I'm guessing most teams compete (that's 1-3 events)? Not that I advocate not having a tension system. I still stand by sliding motor mounts. |
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#10
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
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A blanket statement that tensioners are unnecessary is never a good thing, imo. |
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#11
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
Making the roller chain as "tight as possible" would be a larger load on the motors than a properly tensioned drive train.
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#12
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
I have had some robots that functioned fine for a whole season, while never having to adjust the chain. I've had others that had to be constantly adjusted. Sometimes you can get away with not having tensioners, but it's like playing a game of Russian Roulette with your drivetrain. It's better to come up with a tensioning solution (HDPE, idler sprockets, sliding motor/wheel mounts) than to risk having your drivetrain fail in a critical situation because the chain got too loose.
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#13
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
Where can we get HDPE and do we have to make the tensioners or do they come pre-made?
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#14
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
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* Just type in 3498 in the search box on McMaster. |
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#15
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Re: what Chain size and tensioner to use for the drivetrain
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The fraction of a watt consumed by a tensioner can be measured, but you'd never notice it. Maybe doing it wrong works for you and your team, and that's cool for you, but that doesn't make it good engineering practice. Don . |
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