Too much traction

[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!

[pufame]

I can't tell how you have the wheels aligned on the shaft from the picture but...

http://andymark.biz/am-0104.html

The AndyMark Coolie Dualie Wheels have the same diameter center hole and hole pattern as the IFI Tractions (if I remember correctly) and would probably be the easiest to switch to at a regional (if you do decide you want to switch the wheels out).

[Brian C]

[quote=InfernoX14;705454]Too bad surface area doesn't affect traction

[quote]

No offense meant here but if surface area doesn't affect traction then:

Why do drag racers use really wide tires?

[Dan Petrovic]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

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.

Alright, cause I looked in the rule book, and it's not very clear about the first week regionals.

[DarkFlame145]

[quote=Brian C;705462][quote=InfernoX14;705454]Too bad surface area doesn't affect traction

No offense meant here but if surface area doesn't affect traction then:

Why do drag racers use really wide tires?

I knwo ti's off topic, but I love racing and I have to back him up that (at least with drag cars) more surface area on the ground = more traction and speed

Originally Posted by InfernoX14

Too bad surface area doesn't affect traction



I knwo ti's off topic, but I love racing and I have to back him up that (at least with drag cars) more surface area on the ground = more traction and speed

Before this gets off topic: The discussion of surface area in relation to traction has taken place in many threads. Please search on it, as many rather brilliant people have posted their input on the issue, and it would be a burden to have them repost it here.

As for the turning issue, take a dremel to the roughtop tread and remove strips of tread to reduce the traction of the wheel. Should take about 5 minutes total.

[DarkFlame145]

Thank you very much everyone, I was just talkign to a mentor and we now have a few things we will try:

1) Move the center wheels to change the wheelbase

2) Use a 1” wide wheel for 2 of the wheels which will reduce the friction (less wheel tread on the carpet)

3) Raise or lower the casters.

4) Install larger casters

5) Replace a wheel set for a pair of omni wheels

6) Change the wheel tread to lower friction type

7) Change the gear ratio of the drive

8) Install larger wheels on the left side of the robot (old dirt track stock car trick)

Number 8 is my personal fav cause it keeps in the spirit of the bases of this years game

[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]