Beetle Chompalt

[chompalot]

Hi everyone, it's been a while since my last robot event and I've a hankering to build something. So I decided to start building a baby Chompalot.
I dont think I'll try and make an exact replica as that would place too many restrictions on the design.
Perhaps there are opportunities to evolve Chompie a little
I've gone ahead and bought some gear motors from Owobotics but have come across an issue sourcing wheels for the 6mm shaft. I was going to go with the nice Banebots wheels but the robot shop are telling me that
this product has been discontinued. Is there another source in the UK?
Cheers Simon

[joebrown]

Hi Simon!

Most beetle drives use 4mm shafts, so the suitable banebots and fingertech hubs typically have 4mm bores, but you could totally drill out either to 6mm, but the grub screw may stick out a bit!

Banebots are a bit harder to get hold of these days as much of their stuff we use in beetle sized bots seems to be discontinued sadly. We (BBB) stock fingertech hubs and wheels here if that helps!

[chompalot]

Thanks for the reply, but I don't fancy the fingertech wheels, so I'll continue my search. I did 3D print some wheels a few years ago and then cast some rubbery tyres onto them. The hubs in the wheels I used Aluminium hex bar with circlips on either side to stop the wheel sliding off, so I may go back to that Idea. Although I've only printed in PLA so far...

[chompalot]

I've spent a little time on the CAD system in between work, just to try and get a concept and here's what I have so far. A bit light on actual details

[chompalot]

After watching a few Bugglebots episodes on You Tube I think I may have to rethink my initial idea with somthing a bit more robust to able to stand up to all those spinners!

[McMullet]

I really enjoyed big Chompalot on RW. Look forward to seeing the mini version, the CAD looks great. Should it be called Chompalittle?

[chompalot]

Cheers McMullet, Robot Wars was fun. I was thnking of little nibbles or 8 bit, something as I dont think it's going to be doing much chomping. How about 2 nibbles? as 2 nibbles makes a byte. I've not really settled on a name yet.