Aluminum MAXSwerve Wheels
Last updated
Last updated
The 3in MAXSwerve Aluminum Wheel (REV-21-3002) was designed for the 3in MAXSwerve Module (REV-21-3005). You can attach your favorite tread material to this wheel, allowing it to be reused throughout the season.
During the 2023 FRC season, we designed a template to prepare replacement strips of treads for the 3in MAXSwerve Aluminum Wheel used on the 3in MAXSwerve Module.
Our template has been crafted to ensure a tight fit of the treads onto the 3in diameter x 7/8in wide billet wheel. Once you have found your perfect tread, the template can be scaled to various sizes to produce treads with the correct hole spacing for various recommended treads. With this jig, the tread installation process is seamless, resulting in a tight and secure fit every time.
Drill bushings can be pressed into the fixture to ensure that the jig will remain usable for an extended period of time. However, users should note that they will need to grind a flat into the bushings, as the screw placement is narrowly spaced.
Keep in mind that this template may need to be scaled/adjusted based on your team's choice of tread. We have found that a 103% scaling of the PDF works for the type of tread suggested earlier. Be sure to double check your dimensions are correct for your scale and choice of tread!
1) Mark the tread to the length of the scaled tread template, and cut the tread to the correct length. We recommend using a Bandsaw for this process but you can use other cutting tools, like tinsnips too.
2) Mark the tread with holes for mounting and with lines to create the proper width of the tread. Use a bandsaw or tinsnips to cut the tread to the proper width of the wheel.
3) Drill or punch through the mounting holes using a 5mm/#9 drill bit. After creating the holes, "countersink" the tread by using flush cutters on both sides of the tread, especially if the holes are drilled. Punched holes may not need to be countersunk, as there may not be residual tread left by the punch process.
Once you know the correct size of tread that is necessary for your team's specific use application, it can be helpful to pre-cut large quantities of tread at once.
1) Pre-load screws into the tread. Be sure that the screw has a few threads showing through the tread, but don’t thread it all the way through yet. Screws should be #10-32 Button Head Screws, but the length will depend on which tread is being used, as tread height varies by brand.
2) Attach the screws to the wheel. Ensure that you are properly threading the screw into the hole, as the tread can cause the screw to be pulled out of alignment. If this step is proving difficult, it may help to rotate the screw backward to align the threads prior to tightening it fully.
3) Wrap the tread tightly around the wheel, and attach the two remaining screws to the wheel and tread, taking care not to cross-thread them. You may need to wiggle, stretch, or rotate the screw within the tread for the screw to align the threads.
Marking the path of the threaded hole, as seen to the right, can also make attaching the screws easier.
For the recommended treads we are using the following:
