Hello. We are having problems keeping the tank treads on the bot. The problem points seem to be where the motors are. How can we keep the tread wheel from slipping out of the motor? Thanks!
tom
The tread axle needs to be supported by bearing blocks on both sides of the tread. Having treads cantilevered doesn’t work. Once you get both supports in place use the collars to lock the axle from shifting.
Thanks the the reply. What does the bearing block look like?
Welcome to the VEX forums, Tom.
I can think of a couple of possible problems, but it would help if you could post a picture or give us a detailed description on how your treads are installed. Some things to check:
-
Make sure there isn’t a lot of slack in your tracks. Slack = thrown tracks.
-
Did you use the bogies to support the track against the ground? It helps keep things aligned.
-
Make sure the sprockets driving your track are perfectly aligned.
-
Generally speaking, you only want to drive the rear sprocket in a tank drive. This puts the greatest tension on the track where it rests on the ground, which is a good thing.
Does the track throw when your robot is turning, or even when it’s running in a straight line?