The FIRST Tech Challenge season has been wide open for us so far! (Our FedEx drivers don't have to hit the gym after visiting us, that's for sure.)  We've got several new parts, and some tips on how to mix in a bigger variety of robot parts for your FIRST RELIC RECOVERY build!
Our FIRST in Texas Harvey Fund event is TODAY!

FIRST in Texas created the Harvey Fund to offer grants to help sustain FIRST programs in southern and central Texas areas that were hit by this massive hurricane.

Today,  AndyMark will donate 30% of all sales to the Harvey Fund.  We hope to ensure nobody has to choose between keeping their FIRST program going this season and other essential needs as the area recovers.

The only two things that won't count towards the donation tally: tax, and gift certificates.  Every other part we sell, big or small, counts.  With your help, we're hoping to contribute $30,000 towards this effort!
New 5mm Hex Stealth Wheels

Stealth Wheels are a top choice for FIRST Tech Challenge teams. The one-piece construction is durable, and four different tread durometers allow you to tune your mechanism to suit your needs.  (Oh, and for about 40% less than the leading competitor!*)

Now, we've added a 5mm hex bore option to the line! This allows teams using the REV ecosystem of hex-bore parts to get the same top-notch grip that teams using our 8mm bore Stealth Wheels already enjoy without having to use an adapter hub!

Tip for teams: The colors correspond to the tread durometer, or how soft the tread is. Green wheels are the grippiest (but have the shortest tread life), then blue, then black, then gray (which lasts the longest). We polled our mechanical engineers, and most said they'd pick black or blue for a competition drivetrain.

*Our 4" Stealth Wheels are $6; Tetrix W39055 is $9.95. And ours are grippier!
Wheel Conversion Plate opens up all the options!

We've got a lot of wheels made specifically for FIRST Tech Challenge teams, but there are a few that have the larger 1.875" bolt circle more commonly seen on FIRST Robotics Competition robots.  If your design calls for things like 4" HD Mecanum Wheels, or 4" DuraOmni Wheel, or 6" FIRST Wheels (we heard you talking about big wheels!), the Wheel Conversion Plate allows you to adapt them to our Nub or Actobotics hubs.

To mount these plates, you use 10-24 x 3/4" thread forming screws that will cut a thread into the molded plastic of your wheel as they're driven in.  This means they'll take more effort than usual to install, but they're less likely to come out.  Don't use thread locker on these screws unless it's explicitly marked as safe for polycarbonate, or you will crack the wheel!
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What's on Deal of the Day next week?

We've got parts for robots big and small, all on sale for one day a piece!  Here's what we've got planned for next week, so mark your calendar now.



Saturday 10/7:  6" DuraOmni Wheel (am-3154)
We're here to help!

If you have questions about our products, we're here five days a week with hundreds of years of combined FIRST  experience--don't hesitate to give us a call or an email .  Keep checking our  new products page  for fresh releases, and be sure to check each day for our Deal of the Day .  You never know when you're going to find a steal!