make vs. buy wheels

[JVN]

Originally Posted by pythagoras

since we generally have a good idea of what our base is going to look like early on in the design process we know what size and style wheel to use early on, therefore we start machining our wheels and lightening our gearboxes early on in the season while the rest of the robot parts are being designed. that way we are already done with our wheels by the time it is time to get to machining other robot parts. a major part that goes into our decision on whether or not to machine our wheels is if they will be seen or not, b/c they do add an awsomeness to the robot as previously said. unfortunately there seems to be a curse around this decision b/c whenever we machine wheels they seem to be covered up by bumpers or something else, but if we decide to use purchased wheels they are always in plain sight. i guess ive kind of digressed but my main point is that as long as you plan your robot out early, you can machine your wheels without using up time that you could use to machine other parts.

The only time I saw your team's wheels this year was in the pit on a shelf, and they were some of the most beautifully designed wheels in FIRST.

Then again, my definition of beauty may be different than common convention.

-John