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Robot wheels, mecanum wheels and chassis in Canada

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About Robot Wheels & Chassis

A robot's wheels decide how it moves. Ordinary rubber wheels on two driven motors steer by turning one side faster than the other (differential drive), with a ball caster or a second pair of wheels for balance. That's the layout of most smart-car and line-follower kits, and the easiest to program. The 65 mm rubber wheels here fit yellow TT gear motors, and the 43 mm K346 wheel fits N20 motors with a 3 mm D shaft.

Mecanum wheels have angled rollers around the rim. With four of them, each on its own motor, a robot can drive sideways and diagonally as well as forward, and turn on the spot, which is why FTC and other competition robots use them. They need four motors and four driver channels, a flat floor, and the left- and right-handed wheels mounted in the right pattern, or the robot won't strafe.

A chassis bundles the frame, motor mounts and wheels so you can start on the electronics. The 4WD mecanum chassis comes in single- or double-layer aluminium, and complete car kits such as the Keyestudio micro:bit mecanum car add a driver board and sensors; check each listing for what's in the box.

Check the bore or hub of every wheel against your motor's shaft (TT, N20 D shaft, or a 12 mm hex for RC hubs), and check which motors a chassis listing includes.

Quick checks before you order

  • Match each wheel's hub to your motor's shaft
  • Mecanum wheels need four motors and four driver channels
  • Check what a chassis includes: motors, battery holder and screws

Choose the drive layout first

Two driven wheels and a caster is the simplest to build and program. Four-wheel drive adds traction for rough floors and ramps, and mecanum wheels add sideways driving at the cost of four motors and more complex code.

Size the wheels for speed and clearance

A bigger wheel goes faster at the same motor speed and rolls over bumps more easily, but it needs more torque to start. On a classroom floor, 43 to 65 mm wheels work well with TT and N20 motors.

Mount mecanum wheels in the right pattern

Mecanum sets come as left- and right-handed pairs. Mount them in the pattern your kit or the listing shows; with a pair swapped, the robot still drives forward and turns but won't move sideways.

Questions about Robot Wheels & Chassis

Can I use mecanum wheels with only two motors?
No. Driving sideways needs each of the four wheels turning independently, so you need four motors and four motor-driver channels.
Which wheels fit TT motors?
The 65 mm smart-car wheels with a hole shaped for the TT motor's flattened shaft, such as the 65 x 27 mm rubber wheel. The TT motor and wheel sets include matching wheels.
What's the difference between a chassis and a robot car kit?
A chassis is the frame, mounts and wheels, sometimes with motors; you add the controller, motor driver, battery and sensors. A robot car kit includes electronics and example code too. Each listing says what's included.

Buying guides

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