Too much traction

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by InfernoX14

Too bad surface area doesn't affect traction

Are you going to a first week regional? If so, then I'm not sure about the rules on upgrade parts. I'm pretty sure omni wheels, in your case, would be considered upgrade parts. If you're going to a regional after the first week, then you are allowed to bring upgrade parts.

It's really lame how first week regionals can't bring in upgrade parts, but every other regional can. What's the reason for that?

You cannot fabricate upgrade parts during the first FIX-IT window. You may still bring unlimited COTS parts to any competition regardless of intended use. Omni wheels qualify as COTS parts and would be perfectly legal to bring.

[DarkFlame145]

what does COTS stand for =P

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by FRC Manual

COTS – A “Commercial, Off-The-Shelf” COMPONENT or MECHANISM, in it’s unaltered, unmodified
state. A COTS item must be a standard (i.e. not custom order) part commonly available from the
VENDOR, available from a non-team source, and available to all teams for purchase.

There ya go!

[demps45]

There are many different ways to help your turning problem, including adding the omni's, changing your wheelbase a bit, or just reducing the traction on two of your wheels. We (Team 378) will be at the Finger Lakes Regional and would be glad to add our help if you want/need it.

[nuggetsyl]

Are you using cims to drive your robot? If so how many?

[DarkFlame145]

Originally Posted by demps45

There are many different ways to help your turning problem, including adding the omni's, changing your wheelbase a bit, or just reducing the traction on two of your wheels. We (Team 378) will be at the Finger Lakes Regional and would be glad to add our help if you want/need it.

Thank you, If we can't fix this problem with the things our mentors have in mind i will take you up on that offer.

Originally Posted by nuggetsyl

Are you using cims to drive your robot? If so how many?

4 CIM motors 2 in each TB gearbox

[nuggetsyl]

how many feet per sec is your robot going??? aka what is it geared to.

[DarkFlame145]

idk the gears but i do know it goes from 12 to 13fps and we could ramp it up to go faster then that

[Tom Line]

Be careful. You can quickly go from too much traction to too little.

Instead of grinding off the roughtop, add wide zip ties sideways around the wheels through the holes in the rims.

If that's not enough - add omni's in the front. We made the mistake of adding omnis in the rear. It was a nightmare to control. When we hit the gas, the weight transfer to the back wheels would reduce the friction on the front ones, and it made hard acceleration a bear to control.

Last year we had 6 IFI traction wheels, all powered. With 42 teeth sprockets on the wheels and a 25? tooth output sprocket, we outpushed everyone. But, like you, we couldn't turn. So we flipped the front traction strips over and re-riveted them so the wedgetop was facing the aluminum wheel itself. It worked like a charm. We still outpushed everyone and, more importantly, we were able to turn.

[MiniNerd24]

Yu could also check FIRST if you need anything to be approved by the rules. [off_topic]
Also I can't seem to get to FIRST are "remodeling" their site?
[/off_topic]

[Vexkingof716]

You should try the omni wheels. they work really well for us. In the past we had the same problem. This year we bought the Andy mark aluminum omni's. Our set up is omnis in front and 2 inch wide wheels in back. Front and back are powered. It has worked really well. At the Suffield scrimmage we were really fast going around the track, at the same time we could push fairly well. If you cant get the omnis try the KOP wheels. they might work well also.

[alex1699]

go omni or i don't no if this is a good idea but take the robot and jack it off the ground and sand down those wheels i never used those wheels so i don't no if that is possible... and be careful if you do this.

[DarkFlame145]

Thank you everyone, with all of these we will find a solution to your prob.

[AndyB]

Heres a simple solution. Order some AM Plastic Omniwheels. Bring them to the competition. They work with the same bearings as the traction wheels I believe and have the same sprocket mounting pattern. Put omni's on two of the corners (front left and back right or FR+BL) and it should help turning without being really wild. If you still don't have the turning you like, then put the omni's on the front. You shouldn't break chain unless you didn't align them correctly.

I would advise finding the drawings for the plastic omniwheels on Andymark's site and comparing dimensions with the IFI Traction wheels you are using so you can make new spacers before the competition.