3D Printed FOAM Wheels - Do they work?

Summary

In this video, Angus from Makers Muse explores the world of 3D-printed wheels and tires for remote-controlled robots, testing a range of materials including PLA Plus, TPU, foaming TPU, and even laser-cut EVA foam. Through a series of experiments, he evaluates traction, flexibility, and performance, using a test platform to compare each material's grip and pulling force. The video also dives into cutting-edge foaming filaments like TPU Air and PA Air, offering insights into their unique properties and how they perform in real-world conditions. Ultimately, Angus investigates whether 3D-printed foam tires can hold up in robot combat scenarios, hinting at future testing and discoveries.

Takeaways

• 😀 3D printing offers endless possibilities for creating remote-controlled robots and custom wheels, including tires.
• 😀 PLA Plus wheels provide poor traction, almost like driving on ice, making them unsuitable for serious robotic applications.
• 😀 Regular TPU (85A hardness) offers a bit more traction than PLA Plus but still doesn’t provide enough grip for serious use.
• 😀 Foaming TPU, like TPU Air, is a game-changer, providing a squishy and flexible material that adds both grip and performance to wheels.
• 😀 TPU Air prints can be adjusted for varying hardness by modifying print temperature, offering flexibility in design and function.
• 😀 Testing with a four-wheel-drive platform revealed that TPU Air wheels provide significantly better traction, with a pull strength of 140 g.
• 😀 PEA (Polyether Block Amide) is a new filament offering high energy return, similar to a bouncy ball, but it requires careful handling due to its tendency to warp during printing.
• 😀 PEA Air foams give similar traction to TPU Air, with a slightly lower pull force of 130 g, but perform well for skid steering applications.
• 😀 Treaded tires can improve traction on uneven surfaces, although adding tread to TPU Air tires reduced their pulling strength slightly.
• 😀 EVA foam tires, while easy to make with a laser cutter, offer very low traction and are not worth the effort for robot applications, especially in competition.
• 😀 Liquid latex can be used to coat foam wheels for increased traction, but incorrect types or formulations, like makeup latex, may actually reduce performance.

Q & A

What was the main goal of the video?

The goal was to test whether 3D printed wheels and tires made from different materials, including foaming filaments, could provide enough traction and durability for use in small robotic platforms.

Why did the creator want to 3D print wheels instead of using off-the-shelf options?

It’s often difficult to find perfectly sized wheels that fit specific gear motors, especially in Australia. 3D printing allows for fully customized wheels that fit perfectly and open up new design possibilities.

What materials were used to print the different wheel types?

The materials included PLA Plus, 85A TPU, TPU Air (foaming TPU), PA Air (foaming PEA), and laser-cut EVA foam.

How did the PLA Plus wheels perform during the traction test?

PLA Plus wheels had very poor traction, sliding excessively and managing only 26 grams of pulling force, though they were fun for drifting.

What were the key findings about the regular TPU wheels?

Regular TPU provided better traction than PLA Plus, reaching around 111 grams of pulling force. However, it still slipped on smooth surfaces and wasn’t ideal for high-traction use.

What made the foaming TPU (TPU Air) material special?

TPU Air contains blowing agents that create a heat-activated foam structure, resulting in lighter, softer, and more flexible prints with significantly better traction and comfort for robotic applications.

How did the TPU Air wheels perform compared to the others?

They performed exceptionally well, providing precise control and strong grip, reaching around 140 grams of pulling force—making them the best-performing 3D printed tires in the test.

What was unique about the PA Air (foaming PEA) tires?

PA Air tires were more rigid and bouncy than TPU Air tires, had higher energy return, but showed slightly less traction (around 130 grams). They also exhibited a strange vibration effect during skid steering.

How did adding tread patterns affect traction?

Adding knobby tread patterns made the tires more visually appealing and potentially useful for off-road terrain, but slightly reduced traction on smooth surfaces from 140 g to 125 g.

What was the result of coating tires with liquid latex makeup?

The latex coating actually reduced traction dramatically from 140 g to 84 g, likely because the makeup latex was too thin and interacted poorly with dust, creating a slippery surface.

What conclusions were drawn from the overall experiment?

3D printed foam tires, particularly TPU Air, can provide excellent traction and control, proving that 3D printing can produce functional, durable wheels when using the right materials and print settings.

What future tests did the creator plan to conduct?

He planned to test proper liquid latex coatings and assess how the foam wheels perform in actual combat conditions within a robot arena.