can someone post a Q to the FIRST Q&A site for me?

[KenWittlief]

I posted this request two days ago, buried on page 3 of another thread, and so far no one has posted it to FIRST - maybe cause it was buried and only a couple people saw it?

Our team is having trouble finding our password for the Q&A site, so could someone from another team please post this for us there?

Im sure lots of people on CD have opinions on what the answer is, but we would like to hear what FIRST has to say on this:

____________________________________________
Q: The word 'vacuum' does NOT appear in any section of the 2004 manual (no section to reference). Generating a vacuum for a suction cup is not really a pnuematics application.
Can we use a commerical off the shelf device to create a vacuum this year, if we power it with one of the motors supplied in the kit of parts?
____________________________________________

[Ricky Q.]

Just FYI your password is in the TIMS system on the FIRST page.

[Joe Ross]

That's 256 characters, and the FIRST Q/A are limited to 240, so you'll need to cut it down ;)

[Mike Betts]

Ken,

In addition to a whittle down to 240 characters, you need to let us know exactly what section of the manual is being questioned.

I will post for you this evening if you do those two things...

And, as posted above, whoever your team leader is will have the password that they used to sign you up for your regionals, et cetera... The password is the same for the Q&A system.

[KenWittlief]

ok, how about this?

___________
Q: <R54> The word vacuum does NOT appear in the 2004 manual. I dont know if generating a vacuum falls under pneumatics.
Is a commerical off the shelf device that creates a vacuum OK, if we power it with a motor supplied in the KOP?
___________

[Chris Hibner]

ok, how about this?

___________
Q: <R54> The word vacuum does NOT appear in the 2004 manual. I dont know if generating a vacuum falls under pneumatics.
Is a commerical off the shelf device that creates a vacuum OK, if we power it with a motor supplied in the KOP?
___________


Ken,

I would consider re-wording the question. As it is, I find it confusing.

Do you mean:

a) Can we buy a suction cup and drive it down with a kit motor for the purpose of creating a vacuum (at the suction cup)?

or

b) Can we buy an off-the-shelf impeller and drive it with a kit motor, thereby creating a vacuum pump?

Based on past competitions, the answer you would get would be quite different for these questions. Based on history, they would say 'yes' to question (a), but 'no' to question (b) because of safety.

If I were to read the question as worded, I would think that you meant (b). If you mean (a), I would explicitly state that you mean a suction cup.

-Chris

[KenWittlief]

yes, I mean an impeller or piston type device - I dont want to limit it to one though.

I would only see a safety issue if someone tried to evacuate a tank or large enclosure - I cant imaging a problem if you connect it right to a commercial suction cup with a hose

unless maybe they say "you'll suck your eye out kid"

:c)

hows this sound?

_____________
Q: <R54> The word vacuum is NOT in the 2004 manual. I dont know if generating a vacuum falls under pneumatics.
Is a commerical off the shelf device that creates a vacuum OK if we power/drive it with a motor supplied in the KOP?
_____________-

[KenWittlief]

?

(sigh)

[Mike Betts]

Q: <R54> The word vacuum is NOT in the 2004 manual. I dont know if generating a vacuum falls under pneumatics.
Is a commerical off the shelf device that creates a vacuum OK if we power/drive it with a motor supplied in the KOP?

Ken,

I posted your question this morning.

Sorry that I did not get to it last night. Our team is slightly mentor challenged this year and I end up playing the Shell Answer Man most all of the evening. It's a queued, reentrant, preemptive, interrupt driven system where none of my tasks are running to completion and my stack is overflowing (if you know what I mean)...

Hopefully, you will get your answer soon.

Regards,

[KenWittlief]

thanks Mike - we are in a similar situation.

we have 3 engineering mentors on our team this year, and a handful of parents who are helping out in other roles. The helpers are all new this year - Im not complaining. I know how difficult it is for people, esp in their first year.

Thanks again - I owe you a cookie :c)