Team 1807 needs help...

[pacoliketaco]

We are a rookie team and are currently trying to decide what wheels to use. We would like to use different wheels but need help trying to find out where to buy them. If anyone can help, can you please tell us where we could find new wheels and reasons for not using the kit wheels. We had an idea to double the amount of kit wheels by attaching 2 together, (--[]-[]--) kind of like that, to increase traction. But this also made them a lot heavier and not a lot more traction. We do have 8 of the Skyway wheels, so we can use this design. But we would really like to use another type of wheels, preferably at an 8" diameter. In conclusion, can anyone help us find new wheels to use for our first robot?

[Madison]

You probably should not be looking for different wheels just for the sake of having different wheels. It's a bit absurd to ask someone to provide to you both a problem and its solution.

That said, if you must, visit both www.andymark.biz and www.ifirobotics.com for wheels of varying diameters designed explicitly for use on FIRST robots.

[sburro]

Originally Posted by pacoliketaco

We are a rookie team and are currently trying to decide what wheels to use. We would like to use different wheels but need help trying to find out where to buy them. If anyone can help, can you please tell us where we could find new wheels and reasons for not using the kit wheels. We had an idea to double the amount of kit wheels by attaching 2 together, (--[]-[]--) kind of like that, to increase traction. But this also made them a lot heavier and not a lot more traction. We do have 8 of the Skyway wheels, so we can use this design. But we would really like to use another type of wheels, preferably at an 8" diameter. In conclusion, can anyone help us find new wheels to use for our first robot?

A second place is to call skyway direstly. They have a good selection of wheels.

[BuddyB309]

I prefer tank treads over wheels but everyone else on my team says "For the Last time, No Pete! Tank treads won't work. Now go sit in your corner."

[MattB703]

Originally Posted by BuddyB309

I prefer tank treads over wheels but everyone else on my team says "For the Last time, No Pete! Tank treads won't work. Now go sit in your corner."

Tank treads can work. Our team is just one of many examples that can be pointed to.

That being said, I would strongly advise a new team against starting out with tank treads. It is a design best left to off-season development in my humble (8 year FIRST veteran) experience. My advise would be;

1. skid steer with omni wheels at one end www.andymark.biz
2. skid steer with skinny wheels and low gear ratio
3. skid steer with wheels and the middle wheels are 1/8 to 3/16" lower than the front/back wheels

Matt

[Tim Delles]

We are a rookie team and are currently trying to decide what wheels to use. We would like to use different wheels but need help trying to find out where to buy them. If anyone can help, can you please tell us where we could find new wheels and reasons for not using the kit wheels. We had an idea to double the amount of kit wheels by attaching 2 together, (--[]-[]--) kind of like that, to increase traction. But this also made them a lot heavier and not a lot more traction. We do have 8 of the Skyway wheels, so we can use this design. But we would really like to use another type of wheels, preferably at an 8" diameter. In conclusion, can anyone help us find new wheels to use for our first robot?

Well you have a few different options when thinking about wheels.

1.) you can use the wheels that FIRST supplies in the KOP.
Pos: You have them so no need to either manufacture them yourself or order them. Less cost and you have them when you want them and you do not need to worry about shipping time and them being shipped correctly.
Neg: The SkyWheels do not have the best coeffiecent of friction. Meaning you do not have as much pushing power as some teams who do not use those wheels.

2.) You can decide to make your own wheels. If you have a CNC machine, then you can try and make your own wheels. We (229) used aluminium last year for the wheels and purchased tread and put them on that way.
Pos: You can make the wheels ANY size you want. Also they may be lighter than what you are currently looking at for wheels.
Neg: It takes time.

3.) You can purchase wheels at a few different places. (If you are looking at purchasing wheels i would strongly recommend going to www.ifirobotics.com and looking at there wheels they are selling. You can purchase them in 4", 6" or 8" diameter. Also when thinking about wheel sizes think about your CG)
Pos: You can get almost any size you would need.
Neg: Takes money and time to get them.

As has already been said I recommend against going with tank treads since you are a rookie team.

[Lil' Lavery]

Various reasons why to have different wheels:
1-More traction
2-Less traction (there are applications where low traction is good)
3-Omni-directional drive systems (probably something later down the road, not your first few years)
4-Greater/lesser diameter (speed/torque changed)

[DonRotolo]

The skyway wheels are not so bad, but the tread profile is a bit unconducive to traction. Try grinding the tread flat - the extra contact area of the flat, plus the roughness of the surface, might give you what you need. You can also use them as a base and put tread material on them for traction.
Pro: You have them, and can get more easily at the regional if you need them. They are light enough, and easy to mount with the hubs provided. They are strong.
Con: Narrow width means low traction. Only one size on hand.

To grind it evenly, put it onto an axle with bearings and allow it to turn slowly as you gring it with a belt (or other) sander, holding it almost 90 degrees to the motion of the sander. Take off a tiny bit each revolution, and use dozens to hundreds of revolutions.

Don