SkyWay Wheel Tips

FIRST General Forum
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Posted by nuts4first.

Engineer on team #340, GRR - Greater Rochester Robotics, from Churchville-Chili and Nortel Networks.

Posted on 1/19/2000 8:43 AM MST

If you are planning to order extra Skyway caster wheels for you robot, here is a heads up.

Skyway doesn’t have a smooth ordering process for FIRST clients. No credit cards are accepted at all…only C.O.D., a P.O., or pre-paid invoice. They only ship UPS. Some parts are out of stock, you may have to take an upgrade to the ‘Precision Bearings’ hubs in order to get the wheel size you need.

Also, read the fine print on the SkyWheel data sheet in the manual! There are several different bearing sizes (inside diameter) available. If you are trying to match an axle to the wheel’s bearing and a pillow block, be sure to plan carefully. Small Parts doesn’t stock a 5/16’ bore pillow block that you can use with the wheel supplied in the kit. I suggest going to 3/8’.

One more thing, these wheels are not ready on the shelf for them to put in a box and ship. They have to assemble the hub to the tire and add the bearing. No, next day service here.

-Nuts4first

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Posted by nuts4first.

Engineer on team #340, GRR - Greater Rochester Robotics, from Churchville-Chili and Nortel Networks.

Posted on 1/19/2000 9:10 AM MST

In Reply to: SkyWay Wheel Tips posted by nuts4first on 1/19/2000 8:43 AM MST:

By ‘Skyway caster wheels’, I mean the ‘wheel chair wheels’ not ones that swivel. Even though Skyway describes the model as a ‘caster’, it is not your traditional 360 degree caster, without adding your own mechanism.

: -Nuts4first

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Posted by Gary Gabriel.

Engineer on team #121, Islanders, from Middletown High School and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Posted on 1/19/2000 8:49 PM MST

In Reply to: SkyWay Wheel Tips posted by nuts4first on 1/19/2000 8:43 AM MST:

You can have these wheels sent COD and some of the Mail Box Etc locations will accept them for you for a $2.00 fee.

Also, you can get the wheels with no bearings installed for less $ (6in for $4.00) which saves some money for teams like us who don’t use the bearings. (we put in a fixed hub) I think this is still within the rules.

have fun, Gary G.

PS i can’t believe we’re already so broke we’re quibling about saving money over a couple of cheap bearings!

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Posted by Mark Terilli.

Other on team FIRST from FIRST sponsored by FIRST.

Posted on 1/26/2000 10:31 AM MST

In Reply to: SkyWay Wheel Tips posted by nuts4first on 1/19/2000 8:43 AM MST:

Nuts4first,
I read your comments about Skyways and shared your concerns with the folks at Skyways who were not aware of the problems. Here is their response. I know that Skyways wants to help out. If you are still having problems with your order call their 800 number and talk with Bart Weems.
If you have any questions about this please feel free to drop me a line.

Thanks,
Mark Terilli

To: Mark Terilli:

Thank you for letting us know about some shortfalls in the ordering process for
additional wheels for this years first competition. Skyway has been involved with
the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics competition for five years and has always found it to be a
worthy cause in which we want to assist fully.

For the last three years, I have been the service person to handle 95% of all FIRST
callers and I have immensely enjoyed working with the educators, students, engineers
and other participants. I must admit it has been a challenge in light of our normal
operations. Here at the manufacturing facility we typically ship in minimum
quantities of a thousand wheels at a time for small caster wheels with production
lead times of up to 3 to 5 weeks. Our typical customer is an established
distributor or manufacturer of finished goods. Credit card purchases are almost
never requested by our customers and so this is the first occasion where it would
improve our ordering process.

When FIRST kicks off we have over 300 teams all calling within a 2 to 3 weeks span
to place an order for 2 to 10 wheels and 99% want expedited shipping. Skyway does
its very best to accommodate all the needs of all the first competitors. We know you
are all under time constraints.

Credit card purchases are almost never requested by our customers and so this is the
first occasion where it would improve our ordering process. Skyway is researching
this use of credit cards for payment. Not only would it improve the ordering
process for the competitors, it would likely reduce the challenge of resolving
payment for orders sent on open account.

As for parts, Skyway have made a strong effort to have stock of a range of options
for the teams. I understand that the rules allow for a variety of Skyway wheels
other than the ones in the kit. This makes wheel selection a bit more complex for
me personally, but it rewarding to help someone work through their choices. Unless
I am mistaken I have been able to work out any issues of selection with any team
that needed wheels. Please let me know if this is not the case and I will make sure
they get a wheel to fit their needs.

Over the years Skyway has enjoyed hearing the positive comments of teams and the
degree of positive exposure we receive for our participation in the worthy cause.
This is really the only gain Skyway receives. We enjoy being involved with the
FIRST Robotics Competition and look forward to keeping all of your robots rolling on genuine
Skyway Tuff Wheels. Good luck to all…!!

Sincere regards,

Bart Weems
Parrey Cremeans
The Sales Staff at Skyway

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