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How to make custom and strong tank tracks for very cheap.

How to make custom and strong tank tracks for very cheap.
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Hi, after seeing PROTOS III on lmr I wanted a robot with big tank tracks even more than I already did, so I made some tank tracks, with slight modifications from calex63, they take some time, but are cheap and easy.
 
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Step 1Materials

Materials
Materials:

- Bike chains, two bike chain per tank track, you can buy only two and cut them in half with a chain breaker that's what I did.

Each chain was 3€ at the mall, no need for quality shimano or sram chains or anything, cheap ones will do.

- PVC tube, I used 12mm diameter but thicker is good, definitely NOT thinner, that was 1€ for 3meters(I really want to replace the PVC with Al soon)

- Screws and self tightening bolts(the ones with a bit of rubber inside) and screws, my chain fitted M3 screws nicely in the thickest links.

 Quantities will depend on how big you want it, count your chain links.

Tools:

- X-acto knife.

- strong scissors(optional, easier than the knife, but results aren't so good).

- dremel with 3mm drill bit.

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41 comments
1-40 of 41next »
Apr 22, 2012. 1:35 PMmiguipda says:
Dear amando96,

thanks for this great instructable I will use for a personal project.

But I have a question about your good idea.
This tank tracks could be used to work on grass but how does they ride on rocks.
In my backyard they are some small rocks on many slopes. As your tank tracks could help me I do not really be sure they will work on those kind of slopes.
Then having tank tracks like this :
http://www.valamtp.fr/catalogue-chenilles-caoutchouc-mini-pelles-surpatins-road-liner.php

may be can we use tire parts to use in place (or to put in) your halves PVC tubes.

Or may be do you have a better idea or may be already test it on small rock slopes ?

Sincerely thanks.

Have a nice day,

Miguipda ;-)
Mar 20, 2012. 9:17 PMfrost360 says:
i hv no t¡l s to make that
Jan 22, 2012. 10:06 AMstephen apil says:
thanks because of ur idea i can complete my project work.if u have more idea than u can mail me in stephenapil@gmail.com
Sep 10, 2011. 6:46 PMjmacquarrie says:
hey there, can you post pic of side view of treads and one of right on the back, if you know what i mean. curious about rollerblade drive wheel, i was planning mine with cogs and cassettes and other rip raff from bikes. would be really helpful, tyia!
Sep 11, 2011. 6:31 PMjmacquarrie says:
also did you weld the bolt going through the rollerblade wheel so it doesnt spin with the bearing?
Aug 1, 2011. 5:49 PMjaxx111 says:
How high voltage of a motor would i need for it to work. would it have to be insanely powerful or like 12v
Jun 24, 2011. 4:47 PMTheeDoctor says:
Try lining the edges of the PVC that connect to the floor with a thin line of hot glue for traction
May 20, 2011. 1:57 PMRaitono says:
Nice job. But how does it actually connect to the gear that turns them? Will a normal bike gear work or what? Will the screws get in the way? I'm planning on using a similar idea for a new project and need to know how it fits together.
May 26, 2011. 2:43 PMnolan5683 says:
they fit around/over the wheels
Apr 20, 2011. 4:34 PMkoolcat78956 says:
trying to gather the materiaals needed, thanks for the idea :)
Apr 10, 2011. 10:13 PMlestat666 says:
i noticed u didnt say any thing about the drive wheel im new to all this so a lil help on that would b great
Aug 3, 2010. 9:34 PMcowscankill says:
Very cool! Any tutorial for how you made your tank?
Dec 29, 2010. 5:28 PMLegoman200119 says:
I belive that it is the tank platform by Sparkington
Jul 31, 2010. 7:29 PMbombmaker2 says:
Sweet idea. Do you think it could be scaled up using motorcycle chain for something life-size?
Jan 16, 2011. 7:29 PMa4great says:
do you have any idea on the size limit of the chain? (or if there is one)
Aug 1, 2010. 7:50 AMbombmaker2 says:
I will and thanks.
Nov 19, 2010. 3:07 PMdagomuffin says:
you might want to add some traction on the halves, even if its bike tire rubber and super glue
Sep 26, 2010. 11:06 AMkoolcat78956 says:
How do you make the wheel for the chain???
Oct 11, 2010. 7:04 PMvstechnologies says:
Ya how would it have traction would it just be pulled taut enough?
Sep 26, 2010. 1:34 PMkoolcat78956 says:
But how does the chain stay on the wheels?, if there is no teeth to hold the chain on.
Dec 29, 2010. 5:24 PMLegoman200119 says:
The screws and bolts are used to create teeth on the inside of the chain to allow it to grip the drive wheel.
Sep 20, 2010. 10:12 AMsololife.sai says:
Can you tell me how you mount your wheels?
Aug 30, 2010. 1:42 PMagis68 says:
Very very nice idea....the negative to me is the pieces of PVC tube...I don't know their strength and the effectiveness is hard soils. If you change them with metal then might work really better. But this doesn't influence the value of this really nice instructable as a source and food for though and forward research....I give 5/5 and more for sure dude…and I will try to build mine for the next tank robot I am building. Special thanks because now I have the solution to make cheap tank tracks.

Aug 31, 2010. 1:27 PMtoxicwolf says:
i cut rubber from a bicycle tire and glued it to the pvc to get traction
Sep 1, 2010. 11:05 AMagis68 says:
that's inspiration.....u did it after??? Not seen in umages...;)
Sep 2, 2010. 9:28 AMtoxicwolf says:
what r u talking about
Sep 2, 2010. 10:33 AMagis68 says:
forget it...;D
Aug 29, 2010. 8:51 PMlaxhead94 says:
how well do u think it would work in the snow thinking of making some sort of plow
Aug 17, 2010. 4:12 AMgunner.jani says:
Man,very nice work.I'll make it for my robot.Thanx for the idea:):S
Aug 11, 2010. 5:04 PMRe-design says:
Nice job!
Aug 1, 2010. 7:36 PMmr.incredible says:
Very nice. Could you use a rubber tube like a fiber reinforced fuel tube. That could give you better traction on hard surfaces.
Aug 1, 2010. 10:43 AMsammyBoy says:
Like it - I tried bike chain to make tracks years ago and I failed miserably. This is a far more elegant solution. Love it, I can't wait to see some finished results.
Aug 1, 2010. 10:41 AMry25920 says:
Awesome idea, I'll need to try this some time. +3.5
Jul 31, 2010. 7:23 PMtheRIAA says:
VERY nice job, although I want to see a bright video of it zooming around in the street or something.
1-40 of 41next »

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Author:amando96
I will try my best to provide cheap and easy intructables!