Trouble: AndyMark Mecanum wheels

[bbr4d3r]

Has anyone experienced any trouble with the AM Mecanum wheels bending during normal game-play like usage?

[Schnabel]

I have not heard of this before. What size if wheels are they?

[bbr4d3r]

6 Inch wheels

[Quasar Navigata]

Last year's bot had a problem with twisting and bent the carrier plates. The conclusion we came to is that you need hubs on both sides to help keep the plates aligned. The key slots may not line up but you only need one hub engaged to drive the wheels.

[bbr4d3r]

Are you suggesting hubs that are large that match the circumfrence of the twisted and bent carrier plates almost like reinforcing the wheel?

[shock190]

No, what he meant is that a single hub makes the wheel itself carry the torque between the two plates of the wheel. If each of the plates has a hub, then the torque is carried by the driveshaft, which is far stronger than the wheel for this type of loading. This should eliminate twisting damage, unless the shaft itself gets twisted.

[Quasar Navigata]

No I am suggesting just the hubs like Andy Mark supplies. I should mention we used 8 inch wheels which were the only ones available last year. No the hubs are not for use as side bolsters for strengthening but for alignment. Without the hub on one side you are relying the torque of the bolts to hold the wheels square and that when you assemble the rollers they will be equal length. What happens is as the wheels are used you get a racking motion as that non hub side floats back and forth (not supported by the shaft) and soon the nuts loosen and when you do a quick reversal of direction the inertia can twist the plates.