Really want to make a tracked vehicle, where to find treads
 

I really want to build some sort of tracked vehicle, but I cant seem to find a appropriate belt/track/tread material.

20in length
Approximate 12in track width
Savage shocks(I have plenty)
Going to run 4s lipo, mmm.. dont know what motor yet.
Will use a skid steer braking system with a rear(or would it be called a center) differential.

If anyone has any material that could be used as tracks please let me know. Looking for about 1 1/2in - 2 1/2in wide preferably treaded on both sides


Inspiration:
http://img.blog.yahoo.co.kr/ybi/1/24...1244039524.jpg

Tracks dont respond well too high speeds- they will come off the drive cogs very easily unless they are kept perfectly tensioned; the ripsaw is unique for its ability to not fall apart at high speed. Something like a BL kyosho blizzard might work....

Yes i know, I dont need it to be ridiculously fast. Im sure mid to high 30's shouldnt be a problem, it would definitely need some sort of active tensioner.. I want something to run in mud and snow with... low loading on tracks makes it perfect for the job.. and it looks badass :)

I think there are some of the battle bot sites that sell tracks. I saw them a few years back - but dont recall where.

you described a kyosho blizzard perfectly. I've dug and dug for tracks (I wanted to make Mattracks for an e-maxx) and there just isn't anything out there. Any tank tracks are low speed like Neil said. Blizzard tracks hold up good for smaller vehicles, but nothing as large as something that would use savage shocks. You're definitely going to have to think outside of the box to source tracks. Good luck, hopefully you canfind something.

Still have it :)

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/CRT5/024.jpg

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Does this help? Rexnord conveyor systems

The link is to 2" wide Acetal link belt with SS pins. This is a better picture of the product.

That's awesome Arct1k!! You're a cool dad. Anything for the boys!!

Here is what I have so far

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...nerChassis.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...kandmotors.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ensionarms.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...k/Chassis1.jpg

Wow nice...

So 3 rollers with independent shocks and each side being driven by it own motor...correct? That is a cool idea!

Thanks, the thought process went something like this


What tracks?
-Ended up going with VEX tracks and rollers etc


How to go about suspension?
-Use standard 8th scale or Maxx style shocks with bearing mounted suspension arms.

Drive..


This one was tough as I wanted to get away with one motor... Its possible but its really complicated to get the correct gearing, power transfer etc to the treads.. SO with a little help from the handy-dandy speed calc, I found out that on 4s lipo I would need ~400kv for 35-40mph with direct drive.

So the motors that i found were 50-55 turnigy outrunners with an 8mm shaft and 400kv.. the 8mm shaft allows me to replace the motor's output shaft with a longer 8mm rod to power the wheels via 8th scale 17mm hubs.. Next hurtle is to find a reliable way to mount the plastic sprockets to the axles with 17mm hubs:party:

If you still wanted to do just one motor why not do as they did on ripsaw and install a diff like a Axial or one of those fancy RC4wd axle assemblies and use and brakes on either side for skid steer?

Jeff

I could but it would be a pain unless I am overlooking something.. I dont want to do dogbones or anything... .

I could do just a center diff mounted on the rear with mechanical brakes... then I need to worry about gear reduction etc.

VEX tracks?? linky please

Fixed bulks, replace the diff outpus with solid bar, attach the drive sprockets to one end and the other can have the hole drilled for the crosspin needed to engage the spider gears in the diff. Use a center diff with a metal spur and a lower kv inrunner if you want speed. Out runners on each tread would be nice if you have a radio capable of "tank" mode, but I would prefer some really big honking mech brakes and skid steer.

I like the track setup, will be interesting to see what they can do... For the price I may have to snag a set and see what I can make! Maybe a lst based halftrack...

thank you:yes:

Read the instruction manual for those treads. They are designed to use fixed bogies, and I am not sure what kind of load they will handle as they are just "snapped" together. I would like to see some sort of rubber coated steel setup with individual pivot pins that are held in with e clips or some thing like that... Overbuilt...

with the first setup, how would you steer?

And i was thinking Vtail mixers for planes which are just 2ch mixers..

If you look at the rear of the Ripsaw you can see that there is a Ford 9" or Dana rearend mounted up high that actually drives the rearmost wheels. You could do a disc brake on each end and use a single servo to apply either brake for skid steer.

Something like one of these:

http://www.rc4wdstore.com/2/index.php?cPath=19

Jeff

Mech brakes, with a servo attached to each brake with a linkage. Turn the servo in one direction it would apply one brake and stop that track, turning in the stopped track direction. Have a look at the kyosho blizzard manual, basically the same thing.

How did you figure out the gearing? I can;t really see it... Long day!

Unless I am reading the specs wrong it appears that the drive sprokets use a 1/8 square drive... Hopefully they can be modded to handle something a bit stronger.

finish the cd/motor mount!!:lol:

Thus comes the extra cost.. I have the standard boogies on home made suspension arms to cut down on cost..

More Progress..

Designed an 8th scale buggy front shock for the suspension

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ckabsorber.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...compressed.jpg

Edit, Crap I just realized that the upper shock mount interferes with the track routing... Will post updated pics when i remodel the chassis plates :lol:

Did you look at the pics of the Ripsaw to see how it's driven?

Jeff

Doing RC it's much easier to go the 2 motor route. Check out the tank forums on rcuniverse.com and you can find a lot of custom and scratch built machines in there.

custom brake/clutch system that is computer controlled and proprietary

dunno, a center diff out of a nitro buggy would have the dual brakes needed. Dog bones to drive dogs, voila.

An idler between the diff and motor so the motor could lie beside the diff.

Lotsa options.

Too many mechanical parts. I am just trying to help him K.I.S.S. that's all. I have seen a lot of custom and scratch built track projects on rcuniverse and am going by what I learned. Although RCU mostly sucks, the tank forum is pretty good.

The other cool thing with a dual motor setup is that you can super spin.

who said you need an idler, smack a 48t mod1 spur on an outrunner motor.. just reverse the rotation.

IF, i could i would mount the diff in the rear of the vehicle. run straight output out of the diffs, run a short shaft for the drive gears. then use a long shaft collar to connect them... Ill look into it and probably mock it up :)