looking to upgrade from lawnmower wheels ...

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pogo 20 years ago

So far my new robot uses lawnmower wheels. But because I'd like to turn my concept into a kit sometime, I just don't feel like the lawnmower wheels cut it. (no pun intended!) They are kinda wobbly - not terribly so but they don't give me a feeling of driving a straight and narrow course. I'd like something that is about 6" in diameter, 1/4" to 1/2" inside where the axles goes. Maybe a hard caster wheel or even aluminum with rubber coating for traction ? Also need to support about 30lbs max weight.

Does anyone have suggestions for subsitutes ? I am of course looking for cost effective solutions, but I will gladly look into anything anyone suggests!

Thanks again, as always.

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pogo 20 years ago

Well, as is quite often the case I found some suitable wheels at McMaster-Carr web site.

But most of these have bearing inside where the axle goes, and I'd like to connect the motor straight to the wheel somehow - so the motor axle turns the wheel. Anyone have experience "locking the bearings" ? Is that even a viable option ?

I guess the other option is to attach a pulley to the wheel and drive it with a belt.

Thanks for any help!

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Dale Smith 20 years ago

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this place was recommended to me. check them out

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pogo 20 years ago

A little beefy for my application, but still a cool site to browse through! I had no idea GoKart wheels were so small! Does "live axle" mean one connected to a drive wheel ?

Thanks again ! JCD

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Dale Smith 20 years ago

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pogo 20 years ago

Cool. This link goes in my notes, for sure. Seems like a great place to shop at for outdoor robot parts!

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MetalHead 20 years ago

These guys have a good collection of tires and wheels. They also have motors, gearboxes and chain/sprockets:

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I have been dealing with them for a while and had good results.

Bob

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pogo 20 years ago

Excellent! I like their presentation of caster wheels better than McMaster-Carr --- easier to browse ! Thanks!

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Ben Bradley 20 years ago

This company that used to go by the name "Northern Handyman", I've been to one of their retail stores around Atlanta, they have lots of different kinds of wheels and tires:

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There's this old standby for cheap imported, er, uh, "value" items:

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but if you expect to design a kit to sell as a business, you need a supplier that's going to still have the same product available a year or more down the road, so you don't have to redesign your bot for new wheels while you have 10 orders from people wanting kits. For that, one of the big industrial supply houses is surely a better bet.

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You already mentioned Mcmaster Carr (and I thought they had everything). For others, Google or Yahoo for industrial supply.

If you really get big, you can order directly from the Chinese manufacturers/distributors of these things.

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pogo 20 years ago

I just saw this new post - thanks ! Where in Atlanta are they located ? I'm in the Smyrna area ... Thanks again ! JCD

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Ben Bradley 20 years ago

I was thinking of the one in Duluth, but there's one on your side of town in Marietta:

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While I'm doing the surfing for you, Harbor Freight has a retail store in Kennesaw:

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pogo 20 years ago

Fair enough ! :-) I will do the surfing for you sometime.

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I just visited that one a couple of weekends ago. Definitely a cool store to window shop in.

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looking to upgrade from lawnmower wheels ...

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