[FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

We're competing in FTC for the first time this year expanding our program to FRC, FTC and FLL. We wanted to start stocking up on parts for the FTC build and wanted to know if there was a place we could get used or non-used (by other teams) Pitsco parts? We went on the site and were open jawed by the pricing for pieces of aluminum. Can we custom fabricate our own parts and pieces? We just can't see spending tons of money for relatively flimsy parts.

Any pearls would be appreciated. We are definitely in the market for used parts and pieces too! :)

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

You can fabricate your own parts but there is a limit on metal size.

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

I think what he means is fabricate your own parts entirely and not use Tetrix

In this case there is a very strict limit on what you can use. If you go the the rules you can see you can us 36 inches of flat bar, square tubing, U/C channel, and L-channel. From my past experiences that is enough for a very simple robot, but not nearly enough for a robot that our team builds every year. Those are the only parts you can fabricate yourself. ( I know it becomes a bit expensive and kind of annoying, but you have to learn to deal with it or design for a cheaper robot) You can also modify any part by any means in the Tetrix kit (except for electronics). If the Tetrix kit wasn't mandatory teams like ours would probably be using many different means of assembly and FTC robots would vary as much as FRC in construction style and things like that. I know I modified sprockets this year for our first prototype of a catapult worked well but I still HAD to use a Tetrix sprocket instead of just machining it out of any old metal :(

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

LEGO Education sells TETRIX parts at a discount to FTC teams from this web site: http://parts.ftcrobots.com/

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

Steve,
There is a list of non-FTC parts in the robot section of the manual, see R5. Please remember that the rule book changes from year to year, FRC and FTC included. What may be legal this year may be illegal next year.

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

Read the rulebook, but essentialy the answer is "not really". The FTC parts aren't terribly weak (I mean, the ones that aren't repackaged LEGOs), but they are definitely pricey, ESPECIALLY with shipping. Price is one of the biggest deterrents from the FTC program, as a competitive FTC team and bare bones FRC team cost nearly the same.

There are other competitions, like Vex, that may be more down your alley if price is your biggest concern and you want to participate in competitive alliance-based robotics.

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

Thanks for all the responses. We've got the money for Tetrix parts but still were taken aback about the pricing in comparison to our FRC bot last year for the quality of parts available. Ok..I'll quit whining now and just get out the POs and order what we need! LOL :eek:

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

That's one of the inherent challenges of FTC: building a robot with a limited selection of parts. Every year we make due with what we have :-)

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

I think that price comparison is stretching things a bit.

This year we had two FTC teams that built BIG Powerfull robots. We had two full competition kits, extra sensors, plenty of additional materials and spares. These were "competitive" robots taking home the Finalist Alliance Award, and Innovate and Inspire awards.

The cost of two team registrations, two full competition kits, all the extra parts and two event registrations was $5000. Compare this to the $6000 (or $5000 discounted entry) for an absolutely "bare bones" FRC team and it's still 1/2 the cost.

I still think FTC is good value for money as an true Engineering Experience.

Phil.

Re: [FTC]: Rookie Team Noob Question #1 for this year
 

Not to mention the first year is the most expensive. Most of the material can be recycled into next years robots. Our first year we spent well over $1000 on parts. This year, only $200.