Custom Tread Track System

thingiverse

This is a custom track system created by team 9826 - The Melting Clocks with CAD designer Thomas Lewis at its core, who brought the FTC 2016 ResQ game to life. Each of the wheels and track links was designed to be easily 3D printed, while the inserts were created for polyurethane to be poured into a mold and cut into precise inch strips. The intricate mold itself was crafted in five separate pieces that could be effortlessly cut on a laser cutter before being stacked on top of each other. To insert the cleats into the links with ease, we would simply apply a small drop of alcohol into the link and slide it in. The wheel hub is intended to be precision-cut out on a lathe (we used high-quality aluminum), attached to the drive motors (Andymark Neverest 40's were our top choice), and then the drive wheel mounted to that. To secure these tracks together, we used 1/8 inch rods cut into neat inch pieces and hammered them through with ease. We also drilled out the male side of the link so that it would spin freely over the hole and not bunch up, giving the tracks more movement and flexibility. Additionally, we cleaned up the pieces just a bit to prevent any extra binding or friction issues. If you have a high-quality printer, you might find that you don't need to clean them up at all. There are also chamfered versions of the wheels available, but they were never finished and thus never printed. We've created a playlist showcasing the robot and tread system in action: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXIvdqjM_EZhjb7LubGQLJWMBwnxDATg0. You can check out the robot climbing the ramp specifically here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxI2iRplbYE&index=1&list=PLXIvdqjM_EZhjb7LubGQLJWMBwnxDATg0. UPDATE: I've just added the DXF and DWG files for the cleat molds, so you can skip that step and go straight to laser cutting if you'd like. Post-Printing A printed link is shown above, with the entire system together displayed below. How I Designed This A Tread Link Render shows the intricate details of the links, while the Urethane mold showcases the precision craftsmanship that went into creating it. The Drive Wheel for Drive Wheel Hub and Wheel Hub are also highlighted, demonstrating the attention to detail that was required. Wrapping the links around a wheel to check the dimensions is an important step in ensuring the system functions smoothly.