--- In treadwellbuilders@yahoogroups.com, Max <max-r2@...> wrote:
>
> Hey Dave ,,
>
> I say use tube stock and make thick plate disks that can then be
> turned down
> so that the end caps of each wheel has a lip on then so they fit to
> the inside of the tube stock
>
> It will make the wheels much lighter as well as cheaper
> then just bolt the 3 parts together like a ALU sanwich disk- tube
> -disk

G'day Max,
Yeah I've been thinking about tube, the problem is getting one close
enough, or thick enough that I can turn it down to the correct
diameters. I am seriously considering this though. I could make the
centre section out of bar, then I can bury a bearing in at that point
which will put the force right in the centre of the idler wheels. I
also have aircraft aluminium glue which I could glue the components
together with.

For now I have started making up a test wheel in styrene. I already
have a router table set up for cutting circles so it might work out
cheaper. I'll post some pics when I finish the first one. I'll still
need to glue a shim of aluminium to the outside and turn in the lathe
to get the correct pattern on the outer face.

Dave