You broke WHAT??!!

[NorviewsVeteran]

Maybe you should be. I know I was since day 2 or 3.

[Andy L]

This happened to us around week 2ish. I'm not sure if we plan on replacing it yet, I'm about to post on Q&A to see what they say.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by gorrilla

is it cracked all the way through, or just through the white plastic?

Just the white plastic.

Originally Posted by meastman

oh man, that's pretty bad. hopefully you have and extra.

Yep, we just swapped it out with one of the wheels we had put on the trailer we made. Now the trailer goes thump, thump, thump.

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

I'm concerned that these wheels break this easily.... How high was this dropped from?

(what I'm getting at is that if FIRST is requiring me to use a system that can't handle a competition, I won't be the happiest...)

The drop was between 3.5 and 4 feet. It was loaded with two sprockets, two spacers and an AM 500 hub.

[115inventorsam]

Originally Posted by JesseK

If a robot almost tips over, then doesn't quite tip and slams back down on its wheels, I suspect this will happen.

It probably won't happen much during competition. How do I know? We've done that a few times already(in one day too!). Nothing wrong with the wheels for now, and that was onto a hard surface. As mentioned before, it will be even less likely to happen with the carpet underneath the regolith.

[lenny8]

who ever did that must have to tap and debur everything for a week

[David Brinza]

Team 980 had a KOP wheel crack during week 1 after being dropped about 3 feet onto a linoleum floor. It's now a trailer wheel...

[pheadxdll]

Not something you would expect.

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by Sam2197

for stuff like this i wish i could see it from a high speed camera. then you'd realize its not that hard to crack one of these really hard wheels. if anyone is interested in a good show watch time warp on discovery. it takes random things and tapes them on high speed. i think its cool

I had access to a 1000fps camera, and was beginning to shoot a documentary I call "FIRST On Fire: Failure Modes at the Speed of Molasses". It featured a bunch of components releasing magic smoke.

Unfortunately, I have no time for anything these days.

[Kevin Sevcik]

I agree that the wheels are unlikely to break on the FRP or carpet on the field. Of course that doesn't mean they won't break on all the nice hard floors everywhere else the robot goes.... Guess it's more important than ever to have sturdy grips on your robot and a steady cart to move it around on.

[AlexD744]

If your concern about expensive things breaking, watch out for the control board. A driver station or sidecar (I forget which) broke because someone touched it wothout grouding themselves first (thankfully for that person we don't know who). Just be careful wen handling that stuff.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by billbo911

Somehow, I doubt that wheel will pass inspection ... something about a traction advantage

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

Somehow, I doubt that wheel will pass inspection ... something about a traction advantage

Bummer, now our secret is out. Thanks for nothing Daniel. JK

[Rick TYler]

But how will you repair it without the handyman's secret weapon? I know! Zip ties -- the duct tape of FIRST!

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

But how will you repair it without the handyman's secret weapon? I know! Zip ties -- the duct tape of FIRST!

Duct tape is actually legal this year, but it can't be used to enhance traction. So, this wheel has been relocated into the trailer.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by thefro526

I think someone posted a picture a few weeks ago of an almost identical break.

Yup, right here.

The moral is, don't drop your robot!