Drive Materials

[PhillyRobotics]

Can anyone recommend me some materials that are excellent in the covering of wheels or to be used a treads that are allowed by FIRST. We are starting to order materials we think we will need, so i might as well order this stuff too.
Thanks
Shrey.

[Ragin_Kage]

Last season we used these really nice (timing belts?) Im sure other teams know what im talking about, they held up quite nicely and we attached them to our rims with small screws and spray adhesive... there are some pics on our site, you cant see too much but you the idea...they seemed really popular so im sure other teams can help out with the manufacter... here are some pics, feel free to see the rest of our site

http://www.middlesexboro.net/powercord/pictures/140.JPG
http://www.middlesexboro.net/powercord/pictures/144.JPG
http://www.middlesexboro.net/powercord/pictures/141.JPG
http://www.middlesexboro.net/powercord/home.htm

[sanddrag]

www.brecoflex.com
Look for timing belt backing. Order their catologs too. They'll ship some real nice ones out to you in a jiffy.

Also check out www.mcmaster.com and search for incline conveyor belting.

Hope this helps.

[DaBruteForceGuy]

If you want to cover the wheels? i am not totaly sure wat you are talking about? DO u want to cover the wheel chair wheels or something? Please explain.
But if u need good tred material do some research with some conveyer belt manufacturers. Thats what we did and obtain an outstanding Tred. PVC material for the traction surfacer and a type of tightly woven vinyl weave for the undersurface.

[PhillyRobotics]

What i meant by covering the wheels was that if i were to take said material and lets say a wheelchair wheel, sand it flat, and then place said material over the wheelchair wheel as the material that makes contact with the ground.
Also, Are there any regulations on conveyor belts, or are any usable?
thanks a lot
Shrey

[dlavery]

Originally posted by PhillyRobotics
Can anyone recommend me some materials that are excellent in the covering of wheels or to be used a treads that are allowed by FIRST. We are starting to order materials we think we will need, so i might as well order this stuff too.

Before you go and start buying materials for your robot for the 2003 competition, make sure that you have carefully thought through the answer to this question: are you absolutely sure that the wheels you used last year will be at all relevant for next year's game?

Think back on all the feedback, suggestions, and recommendations provided on many CD threads, following the 2002 championships, in team feedback forms, and the team forums during the summer. Think about the breadth of potential game designs, robot objectives, field/robot/game materials, etc. Think about what the game might be like if FIRST actually listens to just 10% of those suggestions.

Are you sure you want to be spending money now for materials you think you might need, based on LAST YEARS game?

-dave

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Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
- Albert Einstein

[Ragin_Kage]

u can always take a dremel tool to the rubber wheel chair wheels and carve some slots or whatever design u can come up with, or a soldering tool

[DaBruteForceGuy]

Originally posted by Ragin_Kage
u can always take a dremel tool to the rubber wheel chair wheels and carve some slots or whatever design u can come up with, or a soldering tool

I dunno if that is the best way to go though. When i was at the NEW YORK regional at Columbia U, i seen that done and most of them weren't that affective. If you are talking about attaching a material to help in friction i do think that it would be a better idea. BTW i believe that conveyer material isn't limited additional materials.

[AdamT]

Originally posted by DaBruteForceGuy
BTW i believe that conveyer material isn't limited additional materials.

Last year they relieved the restriction...we'll see what happens this year...

[Ragin_Kage]

Originally posted by Ragin_Kage
u can always take a dremel tool to the rubber wheel chair wheels and carve some slots or whatever design u can come up with, or a soldering tool

yeah, we didnt use this method altho i did see it last year, best idea would have to be to know what the competition calls for before deciding

[PMGRACER]

We have used the Conveyor Belt/Timing Belt material for a couple of years. For 2002, we made a 1" wide by .125 thick Aluminum ring that attached to the Skyway wheels. We then used an adhesive called K-1018. Also known as Elephant Snot. Stuff works really well for holding automotive weatherstrip or any other rubbery material. The key is glueing the tread to the Aluminum. It doesn't seem to adhere to well to the plastic rim.