Re: Musings from a FIRST Inspector
 

My understanding is ALL parts need to be listed. (Including KOP items that are used) Just put KOP in the source column and leave the cost column blank.

The cost of a manufactured frame rail for example, would be exactly as you say, the total cost of a 1 x 1 alum angle, 10 ft long divided by 120 gives the cost per inch. The frame rail is 17 inches long times cost per inch equals cost of the frame rail. Plate stock, I figure out per square inch, same for plywood, lexan etc...

Think of the BOM as a training aid for your team accountant to talk to and interface with your dir of engineering student. They have to understand how a buisness works and a product is costed before going ot market.

Re: Musings from a FIRST Inspector
 

As far as looks go I fall somewhere between Rich and Wayne. Wayne is slightly taller and wears far more buttons than Rich or I do. Rich and I look alike but he has a St. Louis accent.
Karl,
The rules for how to account for parts are too expansive to include here. There are a number of examples included to help you judge what and how items should be included in your BOM. If you think of the reason behind the BOM and inspections, it is easier to see the thought process behind it. FIRST is trying to inspire by having you build a robot that must meet certain real or contrived constraints to help you think and to level the playing field for all teams. Gravity and playing field size are real world constraints, while robot size and weight and the parts cost limits are the contrived constraints. It is easier to say what you don't include, that being fasteners and items that you received in the KOP.
Oh by the way, buying a robot arm and splitting it into two separate assemblies for cost accounting doesn't fly and we will be watching for examples of that. Individual components must be below $400 each.

While we are on the subject of inspections. Safety of ball shooters will be very important during inspections. There will be concerns for the safety of not only participants, robots and field, but volunteers adjacent to the field as well. Designs that use great deals of stored energy, those that are designed to launch balls great heights or distances and those that have large moving parts (and the potential for breakage of those parts) will obviously be examined with those safety concerns in mind. Please read Team Update 5, we are.

Re: Musings from a FIRST Inspector
 

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Rev F of the Inspection Checklist was released by First today and is available on the website. It has some relatively minor changes to conform to the updates posted recently. I plan on using this checklist for the Midwest Regional in Chicago this weekend. It should not be a problem, just be prepared for a different look when we go through your inspection. Other inspectors from the first week regionals can add their comments below.

Re: Musings from a FIRST Inspector
 

I have never put KOP parts on my BOM. Also if I have to buy a 1 foot piece of aluminum for a 8" part I have always accounted for the whole 1 foot piece.

Re: Musings from a FIRST Inspector
 

Oh dear

Re: Musings from a FIRST Inspector
 

As you might imagine, rookies tend to find the cost accounting rules to be a tad complex. What I've been advising some of our local rookies is to account for whatever they bought and used on the robot. If they run up against the $3500 limit, then they can start figuring out what they can legally prorate, but odds are that 98% of teams never even come close, so there's no sense in going through the hassle.

Re: Musings from a FIRST Inspector
 

We will be using the Rev F inspection checklist in St. Louis.