Attaching Wheels to Servos

After modifying a servo you need to attach wheels. There are several types to choose from. Every thing from putting a rubber band around a servo wheel (round servo arm) to very nice rubber wheels. As more ideas and materials arrive here at Kronos Robotics I will be adding to this application note.

Tamiya makes a nice set of rubber wheels that can be connected to your servos. You will need a 3 or 6 sided servo arm and some servo mounting spacers and screws. (These are included with the Kronos Robotics Standard and Modified servos)

Step 1 Place the servo arm on top of the wheel as shown. We are just eyeballing the center and the holes for now. Make sure the hole that attaches to your servo is facing outward.
Step 2 Flip the wheel and arm over. Notice how the center hole is lined up with the center hole on the servo arm.
Step 3 Insert one of the eyelet spacers into one of the larger holes as shown.
Step 4 Insert one of the mounting screws into the eyelet. Make sure it comes in contact with the middle hole on one of the legs of the servo arm as shown. Do not tighten all the way at this time, the servo arm should remain loose.
Step 5 Do the same thing with the other two eyelets and screws.
Step 6 Tighten each screw a little then move to the next and back around to the first until all are tight. Do not over tighten. The arm will self center.
Step 7 Now just place the wheel on the servo.
Step 8 Use the servo shaft screw to attach the wheel to the servo as shown.
That's it

Foam wheels give the best traction. Foam wheels are available at most hobby shops. They are normaly used for RC landing craft wheels. One brand is Dave Brown Lite Flite Wheels. You will need a longer mounting screw and an alignment screw to help center the servo arm on the wheel.

Step 1 The first thing we need to do is make an alignment screw. This will only used to help center the servo arm on the foam wheel. Take a 1" #6 machine screw and place a piece of electrical tape around the shaft as shown. You should only just cover the screw. We want just enough tape to keep the screw from being too loose.
Step 2 Now lets thread the alignment screw into the servo arm as shown. We are just doing this to cut some threads into the arm. Once you thread the arm remove the screw.
Step 3 Insert the screw into the wheel as shown. If it is too tight remove some of the tape.
Step 4 The screw will protrude from the other end of the wheel as shown.
Step 5 Screw the servo arm onto the screw. Make sure it is nice and snug. Also the hole in the arm that connects to the servo shaft should be facing outward as shown.
Step 6 Now use 4 servo mounting screws to attach the arm to the wheel as shown. Tip for the most accurate alignment pre drill the holes with a 1/16" drill bit. Snug the servo arm to the wheel. Do not over tighten the screws. Remove the alignment screw.
Step 7 Insert the wheel onto the servo as shown. Use a 1" #4 sheet metal screw to attach the wheel to the servo.
That's it