3d Printed Over The Tire Tracks for a 6x6?

[dweano]

What do you think? Good idea? I made a video asking for opinions and feedback. Check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha25NdfPKas

I think my Traxxas Summit 6x6 counts as a crawler still

[Chris81]

Looks cool. Not sure where you live but I can envision sticky snow or mud getting packed into the center channel, and not having a way to escape. I wonder if you could add a retangular hole in the middle of each plate to allow dirt/mud/snow to clear out? Not sure if the print would be strong enough at that point but maybe something to think about/play with. Just my 2 cents. Looks great though, I've always been a Sucker for tracked vehicles!! Lol

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[dweano]

Yeah that is something I never thought of actually...There will be spaces in the tire treads for them to break up the chunks perhaps??? I live in a place that can be winter for 6+ months so that is a good thing to think about. On a different forum they were saying I might not have more traction with plastic tracks then I would with 2 rubber tires...which is for sure something to think about....I am not sure how much the rubber string will help.

I am now thinking of maybe gluing on more rubber...I don't even know what to think!

I am a sucker for tracks too

[Chris81]

Could always put sheet metal screws through from the inside, this would solve the traction issues. Or print a texture on the plastic....or both!

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[dweano]

Originally Posted by Chris81

Could always put sheet metal screws through from the inside, this would solve the traction issues. Or print a texture on the plastic....or both!

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That is true. I got the rubber string that I ordered today....its PVC rubber. Pretty hard...not sure how much grip it would add though

[QuesoDelDiablo]

One of my local guys tried this. Really cool idea.

But it was a dismal failure.

To allow the wheels articulate independently, the length of the track needs to change. It's impossible to make a track with enough expansion in it, so doing this severely restricted articulation to a point where everything got bound up.

[dweano]

Originally Posted by QuesoDelDiablo

One of my local guys tried this. Really cool idea.

But it was a dismal failure.

To allow the wheels articulate independently, the length of the track needs to change. It's impossible to make a track with enough expansion in it, so doing this severely restricted articulation to a point where everything got bound up.

I thought that might be a problem. Any more details? Pics? Guy? Was it a Traxxas Summit 6x6? I would love to know more. I was thinking of making something to link the rear two axles together. A bracket that connects the A-Arms or something perhaps

[QuesoDelDiablo]

Didn't get any pics because he was so disappointed after putting in so many hours on building it just to find that it didn't work at all, that he tore it apart right away.

It was on a custom built scx 6x6.

I think you've got the right idea with tying the axles together. If you can find an effective way to make sure the distance between hub centres stays the same, it could work.

[dweano]

Hmm...when you say everything got bound up...what do you mean exactly? The tracks bound and wouldn't turn?

[QuesoDelDiablo]

Originally Posted by dweano

Hmm...when you say everything got bound up...what do you mean exactly? The tracks bound and wouldn't turn?

The tracks caused the wheels to bind because they pulled into the tread surface and tried to pull the axles closer together.

Sorry, I don't know if I'm doing a good job of describing that or not.

[Chris81]

One solution to this would be to run a solid link between the 2 axles, this would keep your wheels always the same distance apart. Would probably limit articulation and you might have to play with shock set-ups....but it would solve one problem lol

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[dweano]

Originally Posted by QuesoDelDiablo

The tracks caused the wheels to bind because they pulled into the tread surface and tried to pull the axles closer together.

Sorry, I don't know if I'm doing a good job of describing that or not.

I think I get what you are saying. Like the tires had too much grip on the "top" of the track? Mine are smooth on the inside so that might help

Originally Posted by Chris81

One solution to this would be to run a solid link between the 2 axles, this would keep your wheels always the same distance apart. Would probably limit articulation and you might have to play with shock set-ups....but it would solve one problem lol

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Yes that is a good idea. I was thinking maybe a link between the top and bottom of the axle carrier on the 2nd and 3rd axle carrier? Like the part that the pillow balls screw into?