What width would you think would be optimal for a tank type tread for a bot?
I would advise against treads for these reasons:
Tread gets expensive. If you buy plastic tread, it’s most likely coming from the UK (long shipping time), and isn’t that durable. If you make tread (see this article: http://blog.makezine.com/2010/10/27/how-to-diy-tank-treads-from-roller/) it can be very time consuming and heavy. If you use a conveyer belt type material, it’s easy for it to slip and come off the rollers. I hope you take this into consideration, all the best,
-B
You could always use a belt that has some pretty good teeth in it, and Using pulleys to rout the belt. Could make a pretty decent and cheep tank tread. Also go to auto shops they usually have a pretty good selection.
one year our team use a snowmobiles tracks. We didn’t use the whole track but one side but if you go with snowmobiles tracks your need to use there wheels.
where would you find the track and the wheels for this?****
In Breakaway, our team used snowmobile belts for our tank tread system. An old, used snowmobile tread was used. We removed the cleats and bandsawed the outer sides away, leaving the inside groove in the middle. Our belts was 2 1/4" wide. We shortened the belt to fit the cogged wheels ( 2 driver wheels in the front and 2 idler wheels in the back. We also used, on each side, in the middle between the cogged wheels, on the inside, 2 bogey wheels, which had to be shimmed out about 3/4", similar to your WCD. The bogeys were 10" center to center, and we achieved very good maneuverability. By gearing it down, we picked up extra torque. Instead of being pushed around, we did the pushing. We also easily traversed the humped playing field dividers.
Thanks for the info.:]