Re: Building the Element
 

I have not built a pyramid yet but building the field elements the past many years leads me to one idea. Just for in school testing, not pre-contest event.

Making just one side not four.

Determine the width of the top (90 inch high) bar. Say it is 24 inches for example ( I have not done it yet). Make all 3 pipes, 30, 60 & 90 just the 24 inches wide. I would build it with 2 x 4s or 2 x 6s and the metal pipe. So the wood acts like stair stringers. Hole saw cuts a circle in the wood to slide the pipe through. Fastener to keep the pipe from spinning.

On a future game note, unless your robot can adjust left and right on the way up, you better start "perfectly" centered on the 30 inch tall pipe.

IF I CAD one up in SolidWorks I could share the drawings but it is not our top priority this week.

Good Luck!

Troy
St. Paul Minn. 2450

Re: Building the Element
 

Our EMT based pyramid was unwieldy to build (we built for rung squares, and then added the legs, then the goal assembly. to add the goal we screwed it from below into the goal tray. When we used a clamp as a 'hook' to hold the goal down while screwing the structure flexed and pieces moved about 3" or more from their rest position. I wouldn't want to hang a robot (full weight) from the middle of a low rung and it will flex a lot, it not deform.

We used screws to attach the legs to the 2x4 wedge pieces -- we should have pre-drilled with a long bit because some of them started to split...

Re: Building the Element
 

Robobees!!!!
Who likes honey?
We do!!! Lol I don't know if you guys still remember us, but you bought honey for a member of our team last year (2537).
So if I understand what you're saying, it's that you guys are building THE ACTUAL pyramid that FRC detailed in "The Arena" section? Not the team section

Re: Building the Element
 

LOL. I know all of the backstory with this one...

We plan to build a slightly modified version, but will have a gusseted and welded pyramid that should be very similar to the ACTUAL pyramid.

Re: Building the Element
 

Tentatively, I would say go for building with 1.5" 68 degree angle simply because that is what is defined in the game manual, which therefor means what would be on the field. If your robot isn't too dependent on the thickness of the piping, then you can go 1.25" tubing (I haven't done any research on this yet so I dunno if going smaller would cut costs or not.).

Re: Building the Element
 

Don't be so sure about the one defined in the game manual. From the beginning of the Arena section:
GE-13019 shows a 60 degree angle in the official drawings, which according to the manual have precedence. Hopefully we'll get something in the first update

Re: Building the Element
 

I think I figured it out. If you look at page 56 of game specific drawings. There is a marking for 60 degrees. 60 is the angle between the 4 corner posts, and the horizontal plane.

68 is the angle between the horizontal members and the corner posts in the plane of the side.

The angle between the horizontal plane and the corner posts is different from the angle in the plane of one of the 4 triangular sides between the horizontal bars and the corner posts.

Visual aid two pencils in an L shape tilt the vertical pencil so it is 30 degrees off the table, its angle to the horizontal plane is 30, but the angle to the other pencil in the plane they share is still 90.

Additional hat tip to ZehP who did the math while I did my thought experiment:

Re: Building the Element
 

I still don't see this fully....can someone post a drawn out visual of this?

Re: Building the Element
 

We built 2 here in Cincy, at least materials for 2. We built one for the Kickoff, which we left for Team 144 to use and have the materials for a 2nd at our shop. Once assembled it will stay up for the duration and be available for all area teams to use.

We also only built the feeder/Low goal combo and the High goal. Since the high goal and the middle goal overlap, we figure that if you can hit the high goal, you can hit the middle goal.

Re: Building the Element
 

Team 2068 would like to thank our school's construction technology teacher for agreeing to build an "almost official" pyramid. It may not be done by this weekend but we can probably make it available for teams in Northern Virginia if you let us know you are coming. PM me for directions and such, I will post when its done as well.

Re: Building the Element
 

Like Caltran said, I suspect our team will use the CNC plasma cutter and cut out the plates. They will need some love to look good but should otherwise be very accurate. I imagine for material cost we might be able to make some more for local FRC teams.

-Mike

Re: Building the Element
 

FRC Team 3313 Mechatronics from Alexandria, MN has built an entire field wall out of plywood. Kinda crazy, we know. We are very fortunate to have the space to store them in our school's (former) automobile repair shop.

http://imgur.com/IDOSR

One of our sponsors is also building a pyramid out of steel using technical drawings for us.

Any teams in out state MN who would like to use them, please PM me, email me at 3313coach@gmail.com, or tweet at us @Team3313.

Re: Building the Element
 

Ill try to draw something up based on the PDF

Edit: Tried to show how the angles are measured (what planes they are measured in)

Re: Building the Element
 

I made a thread to capture teams that are allowing others to use their field elements.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...34#post1210534

Re: Building the Element
 

On the 104" pipe it calls for 7 holes drilled in each one I know what the
One is for but don't see what the other ones are being used for.
Or through hole for screw in 60dg block
David