ROVER WHEELS: Monitoring changes over time, NOTE: Read back through the thread to avoid repeating misconceptions |
ROVER WHEELS: Monitoring changes over time, NOTE: Read back through the thread to avoid repeating misconceptions |
May 20 2013, 03:57 AM
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#31
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
OK, that was pretty funny.
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May 20 2013, 04:03 AM
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#32
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Yup - hats off to that one
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May 20 2013, 11:54 AM
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#33
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Forum Contributor Group: Members Posts: 1374 Joined: 8-February 04 From: North East Florida, USA. Member No.: 11 |
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Oct 7 2013, 02:33 AM
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#34
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 43 Joined: 13-June 08 Member No.: 4206 |
The MER and MSL builders got a lot of things right when they put them together. I'll assume they know what they're doing with the wheels.
Correct me if I'm wrong: I understand the punctured aluminum is little more than soda can thickness and provides little or no structure strength. I understand the cleats are considerably thicker and beefier and it is these that provide shape and strength. I understand that the wheel motors are insanely high torque and could rotate the wheels if they were triangular shape. I also assume that the wheels (initially with full undamaged surface area) would tend to float on dust and other lightly packed terrain. This I assume will change over time as the thin aluminum gets punched out and ripped up. Now you have less surface area, and the cleats will tend to sink more easily in sand. And at the same time, this digging-in would provide excellent traction. And perhaps even better traction when challenged against more rocky material. Make no mistake, I was horrified to read about this! But if what I said is true, and I'm right, and the builders did their job, then there's nothing to worry over. |
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Oct 7 2013, 08:35 PM
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#35
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Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 4-May 11 From: Pardubice, CZ Member No.: 5979 |
One question related to this topic, ... I hope.
As far as we know MER wheels are made of Aluminium 7075-T7351. Could anybody confirm MSL wheels are the same alloy? Thx. |
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Oct 10 2013, 07:35 AM
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#36
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2346 Joined: 7-December 12 Member No.: 6780 |
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Oct 10 2013, 01:32 PM
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#37
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
I also assume that the wheels (initially with full undamaged surface area) would tend to float on dust and other lightly packed terrain. This I assume will change over time as the thin aluminum gets punched out and ripped up.... Remember - the wheels were built with several large holes in them....that spell JPL in morse code. They make little to no difference to traction or surface pressure. Remember - it's 899kg across 6 wheels each with basically the same surface contact patch. It wont change significantly with a few dings and dents in it. However - your conclusion "the builders did their job, then there's nothing to worry over" is 100% accurate. |
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Oct 16 2013, 10:48 AM
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#38
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Member Group: Members Posts: 282 Joined: 18-June 04 Member No.: 84 |
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Oct 18 2013, 11:16 PM
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#39
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Member Group: Members Posts: 105 Joined: 27-August 05 Member No.: 479 |
Remember - the wheels were built with several large holes in them....that spell JPL in morse code. They make little to no difference to traction or surface pressure. Remember - it's 899kg across 6 wheels each with basically the same surface contact patch. It wont change significantly with a few dings and dents in it. However - your conclusion "the builders did their job, then there's nothing to worry over" is 100% accurate. I would love to see the machinery used to fabricate the wheels |
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Oct 19 2013, 01:42 AM
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#40
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Go to any aerospace grade machine shop.
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Oct 19 2013, 08:24 AM
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#41
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Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 4-May 11 From: Pardubice, CZ Member No.: 5979 |
Or visit directly Next Intent where they produced all MSL and MER wheels http://www.nextintent.com/portfolio-2.
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Nov 25 2013, 03:21 PM
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#42
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2346 Joined: 7-December 12 Member No.: 6780 |
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Nov 25 2013, 04:29 PM
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#43
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
Wow.
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Nov 25 2013, 05:13 PM
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#44
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Member Group: Members Posts: 404 Joined: 5-January 10 Member No.: 5161 |
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Nov 28 2013, 12:53 PM
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#45
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2346 Joined: 7-December 12 Member No.: 6780 |
Sol 469-471 Update On Curiosity From USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Tearing on Wheels
QUOTE There was some concern about tears in the rover wheels, but today we got the go-ahead to drive, with no restrictions on distance or drive mode. The tears in the wheels were expected based on testing, and the wheels are designed to survive such damage without affecting mobility. ...
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