Colson 101

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by Jared341

I would think a jig and a saw would do the trick.

Ah, I can see how to do it very easily with a table saw. Good catch.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by JackS

Art Dutra's results here.

JVN's data here.

This is our first year with colsons. We have 6x1.5" wheels and the robot is much harder to push laterally vs our 4x1" roughtop wheels from last year. We made simple press in plugs and didn't even knurl them.

Neither of these are really useful information. To make a comparison one must perform the same test on colson wheels, traction wheels, and other other wheels one wishes to compare.

Merely throwing out CoF isn't enough.

[sanddrag]

Linco Caster in South El Monte, California has them and has been pleasant to deal with in the past.

[Rich Kressly]

If you like Colson, but don't want to bother with separate hub manufacturing or purchase, check out NPC wheels which have very similar characteristics and have hub included:
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/prod...lrin_hubs.html

1712 used NPC wheels in its drivetrain in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010. During those years the wheels performed very well on all kinds of surfaces, including those similar to what is being used this year, and in all kinds of configurations (4-wheel, 6-wheel, wide-body, long-body).

As pointed out you will expend a little weight here, but when I was in a decision-making position, I always thought it was weight well spent for a wheel that will last, get around, help you score, and stand up to playing aggressive defense when/if a game or strategy calls for it. I'm also sure there are plenty of places you could take some mass out of the wheels if you wanted/needed to as well.

And while we never grooved the NPC wheels to improve traction on a competition robot, I'm well aware of the success Brando and others have had with this technique and did like what I saw with some off-season lab testing several years back.

[sdcantrell56]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

If you like Colson, but don't want to bother with separate hub manufacturing or purchase, check out NPC wheels which have very similar characteristics and have hub included:
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/prod...lrin_hubs.html

1712 used NPC wheels in its drivetrain in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010. During those years the wheels performed very well on all kinds of surfaces, including those similar to what is being used this year, and in all kinds of configurations (4-wheel, 6-wheel, wide-body, long-body).

As pointed out you will expend a little weight here, but when I was in a decision-making position, I always thought it was weight well spent for a wheel that will last, get around, help you score, and stand up to playing aggressive defense when/if a game or strategy calls for it. I'm also sure there are plenty of places you could take some mass out of the wheels if you wanted/needed to as well.

And while we never grooved the NPC wheels to improve traction on a competition robot, I'm well aware of the success Brando and others have had with this technique and did like what I saw with some off-season lab testing several years back.

For what its worth, the NPC wheels are colson wheels just with a delrin hub inserted. If you dont have the machining resources theyre great; however, if you have access to a lathe it is much more economical to do a simple plug. This gives you the option of hex broaching as well so you dont have to deal with keyways.

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by sdcantrell56

For what its worth, the NPC wheels are colson wheels just with a delrin hub inserted. If you dont have the machining resources theyre great; however, if you have access to a lathe it is much more economical to do a simple plug. This gives you the option of hex broaching as well so you dont have to deal with keyways.

Agreed on the cost if you're into those manufacturing techniques.

[sdcantrell56]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

Agreed on the cost if you're into those manufacturing techniques.

Absolutely. It's all about trade-offs. Their is very little in the world I hate as much as dealing with keys though so its a no brainer for us. Back when we ran colsons in 07 we went with the NPC ones though and they held up great.

[Siri]

Where do you guys buy your Colsons? (Online shippers or storefront in the Philadelphia, PA area) The only distributor the Colson website identified in our area was a wholesaler and uninterested in selling us 4.

I've checked like Robotmarketplace and McMaster, but we're looking for Ecoformas not Performas; specifically 4"x1.25" Encore Ecoforma Flat Grey Tread - less bearing (E2.00004.476).

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Siri

Where do you guys buy your Colsons? (Online shippers or storefront in the Philadelphia, PA area) The only distributor the Colson website identified in our area was a wholesaler and uninterested in selling us 4.

I've checked like Robotmarketplace and McMaster, but we're looking for Ecoformas not Performas; specifically 4"x1.25" Encore Ecoforma Flat Grey Tread - less bearing (E2.00004.476).

This is information I got directly from calling Colson earlier this season:

The Ecoforma and Performa lines of wheels are the same thing. The Performas are marketed in NAFTA while the Ecoformas are for other regions.

The reason I wanted the Ecoformas specifically is probably the same as you, weight. When speaking to this customer service agent she told me they are the same wheel, and the information on the website regarding the weight of the Ecoformas may be incorrect.

-Brando

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

This is information I got directly from calling Colson earlier this season:

The Ecoforma and Performa lines of wheels are the same thing. The Performas are marketed in NAFTA while the Ecoformas are for other regions.

The reason I wanted the Ecoformas specifically is probably the same as you, weight. When speaking to this customer service agent she told me they are the same wheel, and the information on the website regarding the weight of the Ecoformas may be incorrect.

-Brando

Wow, thanks. We were looking for the weight. I think the Ecoforma weight may be correct though, because Robotmarketplace Performas are 4oz/ea. I think we're getting one to play around with; we'll see.

[AlexH]

any reason for not going with performas? occasionally colsons pop up on https://www.surpluscenter.com/

grainger sells off brand colsons (albion brand). the durometer is the same as a colson performa.

most of the time I buy my colsons from robot marketplace, but i've bought some off surplus center too.

edit: you could also look into using two of the orange banebots wheels on the same axle. it's a 40a durometer wheel so it should get more grip than a 65a durometer colson. i wouldn't recommend the 30a green banebots wheels, they wear down like crazy. also don't worry about the hole on the banebots wheels not being centered. it wears down to a usable "roundness" after some use...

[R.C.]

Robot Marketplace sells them:

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/prod...on_wheels.html

WCP is going to have 1/2" Hex Plugs for these in the next month or two. Along with a keyed version of the plug for robot marketplace/their battle bots line.

-RC

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

1712 used NPC wheels in its drivetrain in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010. During those years the wheels performed very well on all kinds of surfaces, including those similar to what is being used this year, and in all kinds of configurations (4-wheel, 6-wheel, wide-body, long-body).

We used them on our shooter this year, as well. We opted for KoP wheels (then later two omnis on one side) for our drive train for weight and size constraints. We may change that in the future.

[waialua359]

After reading this entire thread, I am now convinced that we will in all probability, use Colsons next year.

[sdcantrell56]

Originally Posted by waialua359

After reading this entire thread, I am now convinced that we will in all probability, use Colsons next year.

Glenn,

Feel free to stop by and check them out on our robot at Lonestar.