Re: What to use for ballast
 

why not use that extra weight to add functionalities or make your robot stronger?

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Hyperbole is neither gracious nor professional.

Re: What to use for ballast
 

We used "Thirt" a solid aluminum cylinder for ballast in 2013 for our pyramid climber - and won Pine Tree with it.

Excerpt from our team website:

The Windham Windup, FRC Team 3467 Presents out mascot, Thirt!

Thirt is a solid piece of aluminum stock, 6 inches long with a diameter of 3.5 inches. He got his name because the atomic number of aluminum is 13.

Thirt became a member of our lives back in 2013, at the Granite State Regional. As a result of having some troubles with our robot, our shooter was removed, leaving only our climbing mechanism. Our sponsor, Veloxion, brought him to us as a counter-weight to move our center of gravity to directly below the arm. Because of him, our climber worked perfectly, allowing us to go on to win the Pine Tree Regional, and get an Excellence in Engineering Award specifically for our climber.

After GSR, our lead programmer fell in love with Thirt. He provided Thirt with his name and status.

The Windham Windup's Ultimate Ascent robot went from being a robot without a shooter to a robot that brought its team to the World Championship, thanks to Thirt. Because of this, Thirt has become a symbol of 3467's motivation and success.

-

Unfortunately in the years after 2013 we haven't had any weight left to use for ballast ;)

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Do realize that if you ride in a motor vehicle with wheels, you likely have exposed lead weights on your wheels. Don't lick them.

One 18 lb counter weight we used is a plastic encased lead / sulfuric acid mix. The inspector didn't even count it against our weight limit. The other was a 4"x21"x1" chunk of steel. About 20 lb

Re: What to use for ballast
 

We put rebar into our back 2x1 of our west coast chassis. Works like a dream, and it not visible at all (we made custom plugs).

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Please don't 'joke' about this. Duct taping 'ballast' to your robot will not make your inspector or FTA happy.

Re: What to use for ballast
 

We use 1" x 3" steel bar cut to the precice length needed. Adjustable to any weight, fits in tight spaces, and easily drilled and tapped for mounting. No one knew, but there was 11.5 lbs. of such bar hidden inside the rear of the chassis of our 2013 robot, to manage CG for level hanging.

Re: What to use for ballast
 

This is a year where ballast is definitely a possibility for many teams.

My prognostication from game reveal day, and at least somewhat supported by week 1-3 results: This is going to be a landmark year for specialization and complementary alliance selection.
Even if I'm wrong, this is not an unreasonable place to be; several threads on CD have even focused on which specialties will be in demand. With that as a given, many robots will be simpler than in recent years, and will come in functionally under the weight limits. A significant number of these, (especially those whose design placed emphasis on mining the landfill, capping stacks, or scoring coop points on the step), will carry game pieces outside of the traditional "frame perimeter", and will be greatly assisted in stability by a chunk of metal at the back and bottom of the robot.

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Uranium could make a pretty heavy ballast as well

Re: What to use for ballast
 

We came up with a fairly ingenious solution this year for ballast, we are using a 1" threaded rod the length of our back tube and we increment nuts on until we have our desired weight. Each 1" nut wights about 1/4 Pound which gives us all the variability we need. Another plus you touched on is its all COTS and fairly cheap (we found the nuts for under a dollar per and the rod was about $20)

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Our ballast is a 250c Viair compressor and a 1/4 inch thick aluminum bellypan. due to upgrades at next regional, one has to go. I really like that compressor and replacing the bellypan doesn't sound terribly appealing either:)

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Actually lead wheel weights have been outlawed in some states. http://www.leadfreewheels.org/ In addition the EPA has been "strongly suggesting" that tire stores choose lead free weights and that states ban the use of lead wheel weights.

Of course there are still millions of cars on the roads and wheels out there with un-coated lead wheel weights.

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Jimbo,
Had you been in California, it would have been a much different situation. Sealing/painting lead ballast is not something new to FRC. It has been around for more than a decade.
Lead wheel weights are also out of fashion for the same reason. Many locales do not allow them and some states ban hundreds of materials altogether.
Frank, I assume you are speaking of a battery used as ballast. Again this violates Robot rules and an issue was posted during last season here on CD discussing it.

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Al,

Are you stating that the battery used for power on the robot cannot be used for ballast?

Hmmm, seems I need to figure out how to power my robot then ;)

Re: What to use for ballast
 

Anyone who read your Bill Of Materials should have been aware of its existence. Unless by "hidden" you mean "secret", in which case you were were not in compliance with the rules.