Discussion:
OT An inline skateboard?
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John Doe
2013-07-31 16:44:15 UTC
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I want to make an inline skateboard. With a big front wheel. Also
with a driving wheel attached to an electric or gas engine. I wonder
if Razor's Ripstick with additional wheels would work (going to do
the research).
John Doe
2013-07-31 17:47:01 UTC
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To make an inline skateboard... All I have to do is mount some
casters tilted towards the front? Really? That is certainly easy
enough to try.
John Doe
2013-07-31 21:45:25 UTC
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There might be a problem since the whole board tilts like a
skateboard. All of the casters will face in the same direction as the
tilt requires. So the board would not turn, it would move diagonally
forward/right or forward/left when it is tilted. That might be nice
for sidestepping things, but it's not conventional turning. But,
since a level caster follows the direction of movement, casters
towards the back of the board will be more level. Therefore, varying
the tilt steepness from the front steepest to the back levelest might
make the board turn normally. Or maybe other possibilities.
Fascinating project.
Post by John Doe
To make an inline skateboard... All I have to do is mount some
casters tilted towards the front? Really? That is certainly easy
enough to try.
John Doe
2013-08-03 20:33:23 UTC
Permalink
Just ordered five 5 inch wheel casters. They use Delrin bearings. I
haven't researched it, but I suspect that will help reduce grind
caused by dirt. Otherwise they might need to be expensive dust-proof
type ball bearing casters.

I might limit the turning radius of each caster, somehow.

They are stem casters. Mounting should be easier than a plate caster.
It will require drilling a hole for the stem, and then drilling a
large hole for the bearing housing to fit flush against the wood.
That might be doable using a spade bit. The casters need to be angled
toward the front of the skateboard. Mounting the casters/wheels is
going to be a challenge.

Also interesting is how exactly casters will cope with rough street
terrain. I don't think they can cause the skateboard to jerk left or
right, because that's just not how castor wheels work. If there is
forward momentum, the caster probably will follow the force direction
even if it's encountering an sideward obstacle.

The Ripstik has it easy since it's used only on smooth surfaces (as
far as I know).

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