Non-treaded wheels?

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by gorrilla

Annoyed after years of replacing treads that fall off, I've decided that there has to be a better way.

Your treads fall off?

We've never had that problem and have been using belted wheels for 4 out of the last 5 years.

Are you using large head rivets?
Do you rivet too close to the end of the tread?

I'm curious what your failure method actually is.

[gorrilla]

Originally Posted by Peter Matteson

Your treads fall off?

We've never had that problem and have been using belted wheels for 4 out of the last 5 years.

Are you using large head rivets?
Do you rivet too close to the end of the tread?

I'm curious what your failure method actually is.

During build season we used 1/8th and 3/16th steel rivets, then during ship day and the FL regional the every single tread came off at least once, when one would fall off we would switch it out with a new tread and new rivets, the 3/16th rivets were large head.

The failure would happen when one of the ends would come loose then take the rest with it. Each end had two rivets, in between each spoke would also have two. Most of the time the rivets did not come out, the tread just tore a hole in the rubber around the rivet.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by gorrilla

During build season we used 1/8th and 3/16th steel rivets, then during ship day and the FL regional the every single tread came off at least once, when one would fall off we would switch it out with a new tread and new rivets, the 3/16th rivets were large head.

The failure would happen when one of the ends would come loose then take the rest with it. Each end had two rivets, in between each spoke would also have two. Most of the time the rivets did not come out, the tread just tore a hole in the rubber around the rivet.

This is odd. Do you use washers with your rivets?

We've never had tread really come off, just get so used that it was garbage. Our team also switched to blue nitrile tread and we haven't replaced the tread from our 2008 or 2010 robot. We have always used 1/8" aluminum Rivets.

I think the key is making sure to use rivets with washers so your rivet doesn't bore through the tread. Also making sure tread is cut to the correct length helps.

-RC

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by R.C.

This is odd. Do you use washers with your rivets?

We've never had tread really come off, just get so used that it was garbage. Our team also switched to blue nitrile tread and we haven't replaced the tread from our 2008 or 2010 robot. We have always used 1/8" aluminum Rivets.

I think the key is making sure to use rivets with washers so your rivet doesn't bore through the tread. Also making sure tread is cut to the correct length helps.

-RC

Might have also drilled the holes one size to large?

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

Might have also drilled the holes one size to large?

True, I know that we did this for a couple of rivet holes and the rivets would just pop out freely.

-RC

[gorrilla]

Originally Posted by R.C.

True, I know that we did this for a couple of rivet holes and the rivets would just pop out freely.

-RC

I don't think so, but it's possible.
Finally after I had replaced all of them I put some 3M-2part epoxy on the ends of each, that held them for the remainder of the regional.

[AdamHeard]

I've seen a lot of teams rivet too much. Two rivets side by side in 1" is not necessary, we've gotten away with 1 rivet centered on the 1" face on each end. If you "cut" the tread too much with holes, it gets weak and wants to start to break apart at the hole.

[harryji369]

have you ever tried skyway wheels
you can get them here
http://skywaywheels.com/products_002.htm

[jspatz1]

Originally Posted by gorrilla

The failure would happen when one of the ends would come loose then take the rest with it. Each end had two rivets, in between each spoke would also have two. Most of the time the rivets did not come out, the tread just tore a hole in the rubber around the rivet.

This sounds like the holes through the tread may have been too big. They need to be a very tight fit so you can barely get the rivet through it. The woven foundation of the conveyor belt tread is very tough and will not tear through if the hole is tight enough. And yes, large-head rivets are better. Our swerve drive put severe strain on our treads this year, but we have never had a single tread come loose when properly riveted.