pic: FRC 2869 - 2016 Shooter

[BryceKarlins]

Are the Flywheels actually mounted that high? We've found that mounting them in the exact center works best.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by BryceKarlins

Are the Flywheels actually mounted that high? We've found that mounting them in the exact center works best.

Just a heads up. Those aren't fly wheels.

fly·wheel
noun
a heavy revolving wheel in a machine that is used to increase the machine's momentum and thereby provide greater stability or a reserve of available power during interruptions in the delivery of power to the machine.

[jkelleyrtp]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

Just a heads up. Those aren't fly wheels.

Just so I understand, the "flywheel" part of a shooter would be the extra weight added and not the actual firing wheels themselves? While these wheels are not flywheels, is it safe to say that heavy shooting wheels are technically flywheels in their own right?

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by jkelleyrtp

Just so I understand, the "flywheel" part of a shooter would be the extra weight added and not the actual firing wheels themselves? While these wheels are not flywheels, is it safe to say that heavy shooting wheels are technically flywheels in their own right?

Yeah, I guess a heavy shooter wheel would be a flywheel in itself.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

Yeah, I guess a heavy shooter wheel would be a flywheel in itself.

You guys might need some sleep. I can't see those wheels producing a useful amount of lift at all.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Monochron

You guys might need some sleep. I can't see those wheels producing a useful amount of lift at all.

[Orion.DeYoe]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

Just a heads up. Those aren't fly wheels.

Can you please provide me with a threshold for when a spinning object is considered "heavy"?

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Orion.DeYoe

Can you please provide me with a threshold for when a spinning object is considered "heavy"?

When it's a flywheel.

[pilleya]

A flywheel does not have to be heavy, to be able to store energy/momentum. The speed of rotation is also important as well.

Just look at Formula 1 Racing Flywheel System. They use 240 mm diameter flywheel which weighs 5 kg and spins at around 64,500 rpm. They can store enough energy to give a power boost of 60 kW for 6.67 seconds.

[IndySam]

a heavy revolving wheel in a machine that is used to increase the machine's momentum and thereby provide greater stability or a reserve of available power during interruptions in the delivery of power to the machine.

I can see both sides of this argument. In general when I think of a flywheel I think of something that stores energy and/or dampens. Personally I would not consider a shooter wheel a flywheel but I have no problem with those who choose to do so.

At least it's not a piston

[Orion.DeYoe]

Yeah, I was attempting to indirectly point out that you can't say a wheel is, or isn't, a flywheel based on its weight. Because whether or not it's "heavy" just depends on how much energy you need to store.

I just wanted to emphasize the fact that the OP's terminology was correct and that these are considered flywheels in this application.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Orion.DeYoe

Yeah, I was attempting to indirectly point out that you can't say a wheel is, or isn't, a flywheel based on its weight. Because whether or not it's "heavy" just depends on how much energy you need to store.

I just wanted to emphasize the fact that the OP's terminology was correct and that these are considered flywheels in this application.

But they're not, these wheels are not storing energy (or at least enough energy to make any difference) which is the exact point of a flywheel.

[IndySam]

That's a flywheel!

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

But they're not, these wheels are not storing energy (or at least enough energy to make any difference) which is the exact point of a flywheel.

Yes they are. They're storing kinetic energy. If the wheel needs to be spun up before the ball contacts it for it to work as intended, then the wheel is a flywheel. Whether or not it is a particularly good flywheel isn't relevant. Spinning wheel shooters in FRC work by storing kinetic energy, which is exactly what a flywheel is.

[Electronica1]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

But they're not, these wheels are not storing energy (or at least enough energy to make any difference) which is the exact point of a flywheel.

It is still a flywheel, just not a particularly good one.