How to easily make Caterpillar (Tank) Tracks at home - by VOGMAN

How to MAKE Caterpillar Tracks - continuous tracks - dozer tracks - tank treads - whatever you call the. I'm going to show you an easy way to make some. These aren't flimsy - they're solid - made of metal. Strong and reliable.
Caterpillar tracks have that incredible ability to go places other vehicles can't. When I decided to have a go at making some at home in my garden shed, I had to come up with simpler method. It's just cutting, drilling and bolting. No special tools required.
There's more details about it on my website:
vegoilguy.co.uk/continuous_tra...
I'll post any relevant updates there, but for now there's a free set of plans you can download and build from.
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[@dfu1685]

This confirms with me that I would have been terrible in an assembly plant. Man, you have dedication and tenacity!

[@vogman]

Me too. It bored me senseless. Hours of work doing the same thing, but totally necessary 😁

[@cleber0001]

Thank you so much to share your knowledge. This world would be a better place with more people like you.

[@andrewyork3869]

It's official CNC is a godsend on a project like this, very very well done

[@vogman]

I wish I'd had access to CNC : )

[@bernieshort6311]

Thank you for this video, I saw it years ago and lost it on an older computer. So pleased I found it again. I am going to make a start on this project this summer health permitting. I could listen to your voice for ages, it is so calming and you explain your ups and downs along with good practice and your videos, all of them are a pleasure to watch and listen to. I also love your foundry one which is another project for this summer as I intend to try and cast my tracks along the same principle as yours without the need for gluing. If that fails I can return to your tried and tested way. Thank you ever so much for sharing.

[@MrLewis36]

A Very Excellent Tutorial Video! Thank you so much for sharing it!

[@vogman]

Many thanks : )

[@goldcoastmotors37]

Just found your channel. Very good explaining, good speed of the video and no annoying music. Thx for sharing and a lot of fun with upcoming projects!

[@donaldasayers]

I had a contact at a company making deep sea submersibles, one design ran along the seabed on tracks. They used plastic link conveyor belt.

[@fernandoandaluz7705]

Wow, you just managed to explain the knowhow on the subject including the math. Thank you so much!

[@vogman]

Oooh the dreaded maths... boring but so necessary : ) Thanks for your comments.

[@nevillecreativitymentor]

THANK YOU ... I have been hunting for such a video. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@GigawattsScience]

Hugely inspiring, such a ingenuitive solution and exactly what I needed for my project. Thank you 🙏

[@ayazvafin2616]

Thank you for this video!

[@vogman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mikelynockt7949]

Brilliant!

[@vogman]

Thanks Mike. They work surprisingly well : )

[@Oldhillbilly]

Although this is the only video I've seen from VegOilGuy I had to subscribe, very well done.

[@vogman]

That's great. I hope you find a few more you like... for instance, I did convert these tracks into an RC lawnmower : )

[@victorgaladimawa6399]

Awesome! Thank you very much

[@vogman]

Thanks Victor : )

[@christopherrumford]

Awesome video,very in depth and thoroughly documented ;-)

[@vogman]

Many thanks : )

[@olfoundryman8418]

I love it!Now I know what your fascination with sprockets was all about :), Martin

[@vogman]

Thanks to this guy I know I was able to refine my casting technique ; )

[@expedient7314]

Hi, love this video, very good tutorial, for a while I've wanted to make a 'tank' go kart I might copy this idea but use mild steel, thank you

[@rustypanels1917]

Hi Veg, just started watching your vid's. very interesting. The simple idea about using tape to hold the washers together is fantastic. This was a lot of fiddly work, but the end result is great. Just subscribed, and look forward to a lot of good ideas from your work.(hope you don't mind) Regards Shayne......Australia.

[@vogman]

Hi Shane. Thanks for your comments and subscribing. Do I mind? No way! I'm happy to share any ideas I have... I enjoy it. It's the way I'm wired up I guess. I'm always looking for the easiest / most practical way of doing things. All the best Geoff

[@donaldasayers]

It always amuses me when I find another interesting KZbin channel, to find that he references many of the interesting channels I am already subscribed to. KZbin is a small world.

[@chip2567]

home depot has a deck paint that would work nicely on the tracks. its like bed liner.

[@vogman]

Interesting idea : )

[@jasongooden917]

I have a whole spare power wheelchair which I would love to add tracks to for the winter

[@vogman]

Fun times ahead! 😁

[@savneetsinghrairai6823]

Can use aluminum pipe instead of bulk of washers it will reduce weight n be easy to make...can add rubber pieces at bottom with rubber based adhesive for exta grip on floors n tiles

[@cenkaetaya]

Do you think a small plastic tube such as a PVC pipe instead of all the washers would work better? Or would it be too weak?

[@Mr_Itchy]

i might use your design on a crawler vehichle that uses a lawnmower engine, only scaled up a bit. ill probably end up putting some rubber padding on the face of the tracks so they dont scuff the blacktop as it will be significantly heavier.

[@CLAUDIOSRC9529]

💯💯💯

[@vogman]

😁😁😁

[@stigridsdale]

The toy I mentioned Below for my 2 year old would be a ride on for him.

[@TheKlickitat]

Excellent video! Have you thought about using a small pipe or steel tube instead of washers? Would be a lot cheaper and easier.

[@vogman]

Many thanks. All suggestions are welcomed. They might come in handy in a future build : )

[@chrisgoldbach4450]

Let's say I want to pull it around town with a handle like a wagon. How would you get it to turn smoothly left and right around corners?

[@chriswf]

3rd video in. That's it... I'm subscribing. It's done! I've made an electric riding mower prototype, but it doesn't like the hills out front. I'm thinking about going RC. Is keeping these tracks lubricated difficult?

[@guxsus13]

i think wood ones will be better for my shopping cart tank

[@unknownr3802]

you should stick some rubber pads on the metal to stop them from scratching at to create more friction

[@vogman]

I've toyed with it. The problem is finding an adhesive. Most are good short term but fail with repeated use...

[@unknownr3802]

@@vogman Yeah i thought that might be the case, might be able to make a little hole in the middle of tracks for the rubber to go not sure though

[@greenrena8503]

cut down a old tyre and bold it to the chainparts with groundcontact and they shold hold quite long. maybe even have a better 'grip'.

[@vogman]

It turns out rubber was only added to stop tracks destroying tarmac. The track itself has such a large surface area that it has excellent grip - or that's the theory : ) Either way, it's great fun. Have you seen it now it powers my lawn mower? It even makes cutting the lawn enjoyable. Thanks for your input : )

[@sasha595959]

Super! Hello what type of motors used? Volt, watt, .....?

[@vogman]

They're 24 volt wheelchair motors : )

[@Venator-Class_Star_Destroyer]

can you build some more and make them cheap sins i wanna buy 1 :)

[@ACCNT123456]

nice work, but very time consuming. if you dont need exact copy, you can use: roller Chain With K1 Attachment, which saves you a lot of work.

[@vogman]

I did think of using chain which, as you rightly say, would save a LOT of time, but I just couldn't get chain that would scale up the same... those sprockets are roughly 8 inches in diameter. And again, yes, a long winded process. There's a few boring, repetitive hours here, but the results were excellent. Thanks for your input. : )

[@whatintheactualf]

@@vogman It would scale up just fine, you can get in INSANE sizes. You can also get hollow pin roller chain, a bit cheaper than K1, but you then have more work to do.

[@Jan-mu6vs]

Great idea, have you tried to use something else as pins to reduce cost and weight?

[@vogman]

Not yet. It still works fine and if it ain't broke, don't fix it 😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@Jan-mu6vs]

@@vogman I was thinking about making this for a wheelchair for my uncle. So you haven't had cracks in the aluminium? Because I'm thinking about using your idea 👍. Maybe I'll try different pins (small round bar (held in place by a lock pin) with a tube as roller) and I'll bolt on some rubber or wood as a contact patch.

[@ritanaredo7757]

Hey

[@yulzulu2065]

use titanium oxide batery is better than the acid batery

[@vogman]

Thanks for the share 😁

[@marinachi1149]

Instead оf using dozens of washers try to find thin aluminium pipe and it to pieces that fits between

[@endrioinfiniti]

Instead of using nuts, I think its better to use an axle lock

[@anthonyfryer742]

nice vid, but why 2 car 🔋 🔋? for such low weight bearing?

[@vogman]

Because it's a 24v system and I already had two 12v batteries to hand 😁

[@emiliogreenwood8190]

Looks like a bicycle chain

[@vogman]

It is the same kind of thing - just on a bigger scale : )

[@Thinkdifferentsagnic]

Can you please give the link of the motars

[@vogman]

I can't be absolutely certain as I never noted model numbers, etc, though you may be able to see these on the Wheel Motor Testing video I did, did this is a link to some that certainly look very similar to mine : ) www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INVACARE-SPECTRA-PLUS-ELECTRIC-WHEELCHAIR-PAIR-COMPLETE-MOTORS-EXCELLENT-ORDER/323216309351?hash=item4b41317c67:g:KOsAAOSw1T1a2OWe

[@everythingintheworld1308]

Can you help me with a project

[@dicksonnakatoshi]

I subbbbbbb

[@user-ib1ni5uj7u]

oky

[@rohankasliwal8001]

Which motors you used here?

[@vogman]

These ones kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGym4aVhLOejtE

[@djericanthony]

Why washers? Why not tubing with grease inside?

[@vogman]

Hi Eric. Purely ease and cost. The washers were pennies and I already had loads available. And they work really well : )

[@swaggerman7648]

Which sprocket is powered is it the back or the front

[@vogman]

I powered the back, but it was just for convenience. Either would work : )

[@swaggerman7648]

Nice I thought it was the back but wasn’t sure

[@mitchsnyder7514]

Really the only change that could have been made easy enough is to use a tube instead of the washer. Maybe it's not readily available near you which would make sense for washers instead.

[@vogman]

Thanks Mitch. In honesty the washers work really well : )

[@stigridsdale]

Great project. I was looking at a similar project using a used electric wheelchair to make a toy for my 2 year old. It looks as if you have used wheelchair Motors am I correct and have you tried loading the platform and do you think it would be suitable off-road for a small child. I look forward to hearing from you

[@vogman]

Hi Stig. This is a large and powerful machine. The two wheelchair motors are capable of propelling an adult in an electric wheelchair but even accounting for the extra weight of the tracks I'm confident it would carry a young adult easily. At one point my 15 year old son was going to ride it but as luck would have it the battery life was too low. So yes, it could very easily make a ride on off-road toy or even wheelchair. For example, the step into my shed is at least 6 inches high, but these tracks mount it with ease... HOWEVER I have one concern for you and that's safety. These tracks are brilliant but they are NOT forgiving. On one occasion I accidentally trapped a length of cable between the tracks whilst it was moving. It easily sliced through the cable and the force exerted was enough to buckle a 12mm steel rod. I'd hate to think what this could do to the finger or toes of anyone, especially a small child. You would need to take every precaution to prevent such an occurrence. But there's massive potential for you here... if you build it, do let me know. I'd love to see pictures : )

[@stigridsdale]

Thanks for that. I appreciate the finger chopping potential. I had considered it. Thanks for your input. I'm sorting a chair at the moment and will keep you updated. I appreciate the ability to carry an adult but the torque involved in skidding tracks offroad will be high. I'll give it a go and as I said keep you updated. Many thanks

[@vogman]

That's great. As a proud dad myself I know how precious our kids are. Play hard but play safe : ) And torque? Oh yes... electric motors have very high torque. I foresee lots of happy experimenting in you future. Enjoy!

[@stylishaaviators7245]

Hah the my name Jeff meme

[@icantthinkofausername2605]

LegoCreator2018-2019 Beierbahs That meme has been desd for years

[@MrNoOne-in4np]

Can u plz tell me the details of this motor??? Plzz

[@vogman]

Hi. I'm afraid I don't know what to tell you. It's just a 24v brushed wheelchair motor bought on ebay. They're common enough. This video might show you them in more detail if it helps : ) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGym4aVhLOejtE

[@ronyerke9250]

Are you planning to make a fighting robot?

[@vogman]

Thanks for the tips Ron. And yes, plexiglass is what it's called elsewhere I believe : ) Fighting bot? No. You're not the first to guess that though. Actually it will be a lawnmower and those videos will be coming soon.

[@ronyerke9250]

VegOilGuy A lawnmower on tracks? That sounds interesting. I look forward to seeing how you make that work. :-)

[@vogman]

I'm looking forward to seeing it work as well... I hate cutting grass : ) It started out as a father / son project and to secure his interest I asked what we could do to it to spice it up. Being a typical teenage boy he opted for caterpillar tracks and no matter how much I gently nudged he wouldn't shift from the idea. That meant I had to come up with a technique to build some. In truth they work brilliantly. I'm very pleased. It was only after this when I started looking around to see what other guys have done with RC mowers (let's face it, it's not a new idea) that I learned many folks experience traction problems... lots of weight, small wheel, damp grass. Caterpillar tracks seemed to me an ideal solution. When I've finally put my current electric foundry build to rest, I can get back to finishing things off on the mower and cut the grass from the comfort of a patio chair. No doubt my wife will find more ways for me to expend energy : )

[@armenvegas]

Pretty slick. But couldnt you have used a ready made chain and weld on "L" 's?

[@vogman]

I toyed with that idea. I'd even seen a video of someone using bicycle chain to do exactly that. I guess it's just a matter of scale - and weight of course. This is fairly large scale and being aluminium, it's fairly light, much lighter than its equivalent in steel I guess. Thanks for your input : )

[@PreHeatedToast]

@@vogman About the weight, what is the size of this track and how much does it weigh? I'm thinking about using a similar method to make some tracks but Im afraid the weight of this might be an issue.

[@3npitsu992]

Immagine people with a CNC mill laughing at the jigs

[@ruuman]

To be honest, having to setup the work holding on CNC each time i bet this method is quicker. This is where a 3D printer is really handy, complex work holding jig are so easy to produce.

[@CunningLinguist01]

Great video ! I recently made my own DIY rc tank. Have a look if you have time

[@vogman]

Excellent work, honestly! Did you make the tracks or buy them?

[@CunningLinguist01]

@@vogman all scratch made

[@vogman]

Amazing work. It must have taken you months, 👍👍👍

[@CunningLinguist01]

@@vogman haha 😄 it took all winter !

[@andreassananes1466]

MATHS IS NOT BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@vogman]

Not for me either ; )

[@robertelbrnd2003]

Brilliant!

[@vogman]

Thanks Robert. It's my favourite build so far. In the upcoming weeks I'm be converting it to a lawnmower, so look out for that : )