Riveting the wheel tread?

[Nathan Streeter]

I'm contemplating using AM plaction or performance wheels for an off-season drive train... Have the rivets been successful at holding the treads on? What size wheel are you using? Do you have any plaction vs. performance comparisons to make? Thanks for the time!

[Ice Berg]

Originally Posted by Nathan Streeter

I'm contemplating using AM plaction or performance wheels for an off-season drive train... Have the rivets been successful at holding the treads on? What size wheel are you using? Do you have any plaction vs. performance comparisons to make? Thanks for the time!

We actually used both Plaction and Performance wheels (6") on our robot this year. We used rivets to hold the tread on both types of wheels, and never had an issue with the tread coming out. I would suggest using more than just 4 rivets at the very ends of the tread. Maybe 2-4 in the middle of the length of tread. With regard to Plaction -v- Performance, we used Performance for the wheels that were taking the brunt of the force coming off the bump to ensure that the Plaction wouldn't break, but we never had issues with either. However, on thing to consider is that the Performance wheels are just slightly larger (circumference) than the Plaction wheels, so if you are using some of each, make sure you account for that (especially if you want to make a 6 wheel-rock drive train.)

-Seth

[EricDrost]

Originally Posted by AndyMark

Roughtop or Wedgetop conveyor belt material are used as replaceable treads on these wheels. For best use, install rivets into each end of the tread to insure the tread stays put under heavy usage

http://www.andymark.biz/plactionwheel.html

It says right on the page where you can buy them that the best way to get them to stay is to use rivets. We used two at each end of the "belt".
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Like that.

[CN-U-NEFCU?]

We also riveted the treads on after they had fallen off in a match, but be careful where on the wheel your rivets are placed. Our team ended up cracking a big piece of the wheel off in one match after it was weakened because the rivet whole was drilled through the split in the plastic causing a crack.

[JamesCH95]

If you're putting a pop rivet into plastic try putting a small washer on the tail of the rivet for it to grip with, I've found that this really helps when riveting into materials that don't handle bearing stresses well, like plastic or carbon fiber.