As a summer project, we are looking for new stuff for our drive-train, and a drive-train without wheels isnt much of a drive-train. So, I need help looking for some websites or places we can find wheels!
-Thank you Natalia
http://www.gomeyer.com/retail/product_info.php?products_id=1591
Don’t forget about treads
http://www.conveyor-belts-belting.com/
If you do decide to get these wheels (the ones that are supplied in the kit of parts), and do feel the need of traction, you can always do this. All you need is a bandsaw, belt sander, and rivet gun (rivets). Our team as well as team 1902 have used this method this past season.
… if I was you, I would look at other robots and what they have used over the years. I wish I could get myself those 254/968 or The Triplets bling bling.
These work really well, we used them this year too and they certainly got the job done. We just sanded the tire flat and used wood screws. Here is a picture of our ‘lathe’ rig. Beware of driving on asphalt though, it disintegrates the treading in no time.
Last year our team used the ifi wheels and they worked really good. Where going to use these wheels in our summer project.
We did use these wheels as replacements for our destroyed IFI 8" wheels. If using these wheels, I would recommend strengthening the spokes of the wheel. With aggressive driving, specifically Dukes of Hazard style jumps off the ramp, the spokes like to crack. We broke one wheel off during the semi-final matches in Archimedes and we also broke another at Mission Mayhem. Otherwise these wheels were great, especially in cost.
Any suggestions in that regard? We never had problems with our Skyways, but we also didn’t do any Dukes-of-Hazzard-esque jumping with Chomp.
Oh, and by the way: any chance there’s video of that jump on SOAP?
George came up to me and showed me that broken wheel when I was standing down by the field at the Championship. From my understanding, if you are using a 2 speed transmission and your driver drives like Tytus, you have to make sure you got something there holding together that spoke. I have been thinking about a “cheap” solution, but I haven’t had a chance to draw it up yet. I just wanted to give you heads up. I am working on it. When I am done (which probably won’t be until before build season), I will post pictures here.
Well, I was thinking about cutting out pizza slice shaped pieces of Lexan and riveting them between the spokes. Though I should say that the wheels did make it through all of the Lone Star Regional and qualifying at the Championships before they broke.
As for the video, it was in the Quarterfinal 4-2 for Archimedes but it wasn’t shown on camera.
edit: Yes those Andy Mark two-speeds and their infinate power coupled with my (overly) agressive driving probably did contribute to the downfall of the Skyways… 