The Field

[nzamorski]

My team is looking at building the overpass of the field. We know that the outside rails are made of pvc, but I don't know that the inside of the rails are. Does anyone know what the inside pipe is or what did your team use to build the overpass? Thanks for the help.

[Laaba 80]

If you go to the arena manual, it describes all aspects of the field. I believe it also has instructions on how to build it. There is also a link on how to build a low cost version of the field, however I have not looked at it so I dont know if it will help or not.
Joey

[David]

[QUOT]6.2.2 The OVERPASS
The OVERPASS structure extends acoss the minor axis of the TRACK. The OVERPASS is constructed of 1-1/2 inch O.D. steel pipe and connecting hardware.[/QUOTE]

So the official specs call for the overpass to be made of entirely steel pipe, however the team setup calls for 1in Iron pipe encased in 1-1/4in pvc pipe drawings, assembly instructions and a BOM can be found at http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=7682

These are the individual documents.
http://www2.usfirst.org/2008comp/Drawings/2008%20TFE/2008_TFE.pdf
http://www2.usfirst.org/2008comp/Drawings/2008%20TFE/2008%20TFE%20Assembly%20Guide.pdf
http://www2.usfirst.org/2008comp/Drawings/2008%20TFE/TFE_Field_BOM_Rev4_010308.xls

[MrForbes]

We're going to see if we can make one (practice/prototyping) half overpass using some 1" EMT I have laying around. Should be interesting....

edit: here's the plan, I hope you can read it! I can't

[Miniflash]

they had a mock feild at VCU made completly out of PVC and plywood

[MrForbes]

It's all done except the splice in the center...which will be some light steel angle screwed on either side of the tubing, at the joint with self drilling sheet metal screws.

This is the Unofficial Larry Henson/Randy Wilson Memorial FIRST Overdrive Practice Overpass.

(Larry and Randy were friends of mine who passed away recently....they gave me the conduit)

[MikeCarlovsky]

PVC alone we think would be to weak to hold two of the TRACKBALLS.

We are making ours with steel pipe insterts in the PVC for stability.

[Wetzel]

they had a mock feild at VCU made completly out of PVC and plywood

Not quite completly PVC and plywood. The uprights had steel inside the pvc, or on the sides, just steel uprights. The monkey bars also had steel inside in the center.

Also included were a TON of zipties. This field is going to use more zipties than any field I can remember.

Wetzel

[Miniflash]

ah i geusse you were right, it did have some metal peices.. my bad lol

[fordchrist675]

675 has constructed a practice field that is roughly half of the field with one overpass which came out very nice, it has already allowed our programming robot nice traction.

It really is a good idea

[popo308]

1625 constructed the entire center piece of the field

-2 overpasses
-center dividing walls
-end bevels at the 4 corners of the field
-back wall (the wall of our shop)


so we have a pretty good replica of the official field to practice on...

We hope to have the 07' bot working soon so we can test the field out