pic: Spotted at IRI: New AM wheel (2)

[Andy Baker]

Here's the scoop:

We will be making 3 versions of this wheel, eventually.

6" diameter wheel is in production now. It is being molded out of black polycarbonate, just like the inside of the FIRST Kit Wheel and the Plastic Omni Wheel. The wheel will come with 12 fasteners (#10-32 screws and nuts), but without tread. We will have tread available, but not included. The target price of the 6" wheel is around $24. We hope to have the 6" wheel available within 4-5 weeks.

Depending on the demand for the 6" wheel, we will make a 4" wheel this fall. This won't be available until much later this fall. Price will be a bit lower than the 6".

If demand is really high, then we may make a 8" version soon. I don't know if we can afford a third mold. This version may be for next summer.

As for the design, this is inspired by the 60/254/968 development of this sort of tread attachment technique. Hopefully, these treads will not need a rivet at each end of the tread, but we shall see once testing begins.

The 4" and 6" sized wheels are designed so that PVC pipe can be sandwiched between the two halves in order to make the wheel wider. This is our design theory, and has not been tested yet. The 4" wheel is designed to accept 3" PVC (od = 3.5") and the 6" wheel is designed to accept 5" PVC (od = 5.56) in order to create wider wheels. I suppose that someone could make a 12" wide wheel (or whatever size), if all works out as planned.

The hubs for these 3 wheels are all the same. They accept a 1.125" od bearing, and they also can accept any of the live axle hubs that we sell (500 key hub, 375 key hub, DD Globe Hub, 500 Hex Hub). Of course, they have a 1.875" bolt circle.

I will update our website so that people can see CAD pics and download CAD models. Hopefully, I will do this soon.

Andy B.

[Madison]

Awesome, Andy.

You know that we're good for a few 4" wheels.

[s_forbes]

Thanks for the info, it looks it will be another awesome product. I especially like the ability to make them wider with pvc pipe, very clever.

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Hopefully, these treads will not need a rivet at each end of the tread, but we shall see once testing begins.

If they're being molded, couldn't they be made with some sort of texture under the lip to better grip the tread? Just a thought, may be unnecessary.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

Thanks for the info, it looks it will be another awesome product. I especially like the ability to make them wider with pvc pipe, very clever.

If they're being molded, couldn't they be made with some sort of texture under the lip to better grip the tread? Just a thought, may be unnecessary.

Hmmm... that is a good suggestion.

I forgot to mention the name for this product:

Plaction Wheel

(plastic + traction = plaction)

Andy.

[Billfred]

One thing I noticed at the table: the wedgetop tread sitting out looked appreciably thinner than the stuff we've used in the past from McMaster-Carr. Is it from a different source? Would the McMaster belting still fit? I suppose it's a moot point for us, since it took a year and a half (and some 25 competition matches at two events) to throw a single tread on our much-loved (and, admittedly, much-abused) 2007 robot, but you never know when you'll need a new tread in the middle of nowhere*.

*Or, as I found out while trying to find a 3/16" rivet and rivet tool at Brunswick Eruption last year, in the middle of New Jersey!

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

Awesome, Andy.

You know that we're good for a few 4" wheels.

Second.

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

The 4" and 6" sized wheels are designed so that PVC pipe can be sandwiched between the two halves in order to make the wheel wider. This is our design theory, and has not been tested yet. The 4" wheel is designed to accept 3" PVC (od = 3.5") and the 6" wheel is designed to accept 5" PVC (od = 5.56) in order to create wider wheels. I suppose that someone could make a 12" wide wheel (or whatever size), if all works out as planned.

Genius...


$24 > $10 hmmmm…. Maybe they won’t be in the kit….

[Cory]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

Thanks for the info, it looks it will be another awesome product. I especially like the ability to make them wider with pvc pipe, very clever.



If they're being molded, couldn't they be made with some sort of texture under the lip to better grip the tread? Just a thought, may be unnecessary.

We've run some of our wheels without riveting the ends before.

As long as you cut the tread to the correct length and width (ie: no bunching/peaking/whatever you want to call it at the ends), it should retain itself just fine.

[Travis Covington]

Originally Posted by Cory

We've run some of our wheels without riveting the ends before.

As long as you cut the tread to the correct length and width (ie: no bunching/peaking/whatever you want to call it at the ends), it should retain itself just fine.

While that has been the case a few times in the past, I would very much recommend the 2 rivets if at all possible. We have run it without the rivets on our practice field, and the tread has come off before. This was with an aluminum wheel and aluminum clamping ring, too. I imagine by the time AM is done with these, they will be excellent. However, I am guessing that they too will find the need to encourage the use of the 2 rivets.

I'm sure Andy will keep us updated though.

As far as the wheels themselves go, I would most definitely purchase a few sets of the 4" wheels at these prices. I'd love to be able to avoid machining the aluminum equivalent, if these hold up just as well. Looks very promising!

[Cory]

I should clarify. Like Travis, I wouldn't want to run my wheels without rivets. I was illustrating that it is possible to do so, if you so desired.

[nahstobor]

hmm looks like the wheels team 612 made in '08

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/img...1fc0a6ab_l.jpg

Sorry this is the best picture I could find of them. Right now we are currently working on improving the design of our '08 wheel.

[robostangs548]

Hmmmm, those look fairly cost effective.... I like it....

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by nahstobor

hmm looks like the wheels team 612 made in '08

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/img...1fc0a6ab_l.jpg

Sorry this is the best picture I could find of them. Right now we are currently working on improving the design of our '08 wheel.

Am I missing something? How do they look the same? Yours our obviously made from machined aluminum while these new wheels are plastic. I guess I don't see the connection.

[NoahTheBoa]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

Am I missing something? How do they look the same? Yours our obviously made from machined aluminum while these new wheels are plastic. I guess I don't see the connection.

I think he must be talking about how the tread is attached, clamped between the two halves of the wheel. But I can't really tell much from that picture.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

Am I missing something? How do they look the same? Yours our obviously made from machined aluminum while these new wheels are plastic. I guess I don't see the connection.

The only similarity I saw is that both are wheels, with treads.

Originally Posted by NoahTheBoa

I think he must be talking about how the tread is attached, clamped between the two halves of the wheel. But I can't really tell much from that picture.

Those don't look like 2 piece wheels to me.

[JesseK]

Our mentors are finalizing the '08 season recap in order to present it to new recruits next month. One of our conclusions is that we will probably go with the simplest 4" wheels we can find in '09. 6" are doable though.