pic: Team 639 Front Omniwheel

[edomus]

Originally Posted by GregT

Keep in mind that working with urethane isn't a simple task That wheel gave a machinist quite a headache.

Do you think these were worth the effort?

[Yan Wang]

Yes.

Er, that's me pretending to be the machinist who cut the urethane for us. The rest was relatively simple.

[edomus]

when these ran did the metal touch the ground?

[Cory]

No, the metal didnt touch, otherwise the wheel would have been illegal.

[edit] there isnt any metal on that wheel, barring the fasteners and the shafts the rollers run on. I think you're referring to the lexan, which doesnt touch.

[edomus]

Originally Posted by Cory

No, the metal didnt touch, otherwise the wheel would have been illegal.

[edit] there isnt any metal on that wheel, barring the fasteners and the shafts the rollers run on. I think you're referring to the lexan, which doesnt touch.

Not last year it wouldnt have been. I saw a bot with entirely metal treads and they passed.

[Stu Bloom]

Originally Posted by edomus

Not last year it wouldnt have been. I saw a bot with entirely metal treads and they passed.

From 2003 Competition documents - rule M17:

M17 - Robot wheels, tracks and other parts intended to provide traction on the playing field (“traction devices”) may be purchased or fabricated. In no case, will traction devices that damage the carpet or other playing surfaces be permitted. Traction devices may not have surface features such as metal or hard plastic studs, cleats or other attachments. The outer surface of off-the-shelf wheels may be modified by removing tread material only. In no case may a traction device protrude beyond the bottom surface of the Ramp mesh.

If that bot passed I would say someone was not doing their job ...
Metal cleats and other attachments were allowed in previous years, but this rule was added to avoid field damage which had occurred in 2002.

[Astronouth7303]

Originally Posted by Stu Bloom

From 2003 Competition documents - rule M17:

If that bot passed I would say someone was not doing their job ...
Metal cleats and other attachments were allowed in previous years, but this rule was added to avoid field damage which had occurred in 2002.

I believe that metal is refering to studs. a metal wheel would be permitted, assuming it wasn't blade-ish on the edge.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Astronouth7303

I believe that metal is refering to studs. a metal wheel would be permitted, assuming it wasn't blade-ish on the edge.

No, actually it wouldn't be permitted. A wheel is by definition a traction device. You cannot have *any* metal touching the floor, no matter what. I believe the 2004 rules are even more implicit than the 2003 rule you just quoted.

Cory

[soezgg]

Actually, the 'machinist' as we will call him, had to freeze the urethane to cut it nicely. Then he froze it again to drill the holes for the axles through it. Then, he placed each and every smaller urethane 'wheel' on a lathe and counterbored each side by hand, which took about 2 weeks, seeing as how urethane of that type is incredibly resistant to wear and extremely...squishy.

Good game.