Minibot material madness
 

hello all... So for our minibot this year, we had 3 inch wheels machined out polycarbonate that hold the pole. They are about an inch thick... Is this legal? Or is there only a certain amount of polycarbonate we can use?


Thanks

Re: Minibot material madness
 

It is allowed material, and the only limitations are size and weight.

Re: Minibot material madness
 

The only limitations are the size and weight of the ENTIRE minibot... not the polycarbonate..
Sounds like a neat plan...

I bet they will look cool...

B

Re: Minibot material madness
 

Thank You much!

Re: Minibot material madness
 

What are people using for grip on custom minibot wheels?

I played around with surgical tubing and rubberbands today and they are clearly less grippy than the Tetrix wheel rubber.

Re: Minibot material madness
 

Try <R92> P. Non-slip pad?

Re: Minibot material madness
 

Our team was also pursuing lexan wheels for our minibot. however were having trouble finding appropriate non slip pads. they are either: 1. too expensive, 2. not big enough, 3. will need replacing every 1-2 matches, 4. or is exactly what we need but labeled non slip roll instead of non slip pad.
We got really frustrated when we ran into #4, we found really grippy stuff but it comes on a 8 inch by 6.5 foot roll so we don't think it exactly qualifies as a "pad".

Re: Minibot material madness
 

I've got a feeling that the GDC will rule in your favor for problem #4.

Re: Minibot material madness
 

Kevin,
I am betting that since all non-slip pad starts as a non-slip roll, that your roll would qualify as legal. The Q&A would give the definitive answer.

Re: Minibot material madness
 

can we use a yoyo as guided wheel to go up if its polycarb

Re: Minibot material madness
 

There are a lot of questions about what is allowed on the minibot. :rolleyes: The rules are very simple:

On the hostbots, any COTS (commercial of the shelf) parts are allowed with some restrictions (look at rules R18 through R33).

On the minibot, there are much tighter restrictions. The list of allowed parts/ materials is in R92. However, COTS parts made of raw materials listed are not allowed, only the material in raw form for you to make parts from. A yoyo is not a raw piece of polycarb. It is a COTS part made of polycarb. Thus it is not allowed.

Simple - right? Just read the rules ::rtm::

Re: Minibot material madness
 

I believe Q&A clarified the use of polycarb here. http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=16317

This seems to be much less restrictive than Raul mentioned above. I think the yo-yo is fine as long as it is made of polycarb, polycarb glue, non-metalic rope, and mechanical fastners. Use the whole thing if you want.

Re: Minibot material madness
 

Raul -

Not to disagree, but I disagree. :) Rule <R92-F> states that polycarbonate can be used on the minibot. When questioned about this in the Q&A system, a clear answer has been provided: polycarbonate of any form, regardless of manufacturing process, shape, or composition. So I would take the point of view that a piece of polycarbonate is a pice of polycarbonate is a piece of polycarbonate is just a rose by any other name. IMHO it doesn't matter if it sourced as a "raw stock" shape or as a part/all of some larger COTS item.

-dave


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Re: Minibot material madness
 

I that logic holds then you can buy aluminum pinions, and gears in various sizes with a set screw (HW is allowed), so as long as I can by the shape or form I can use it...Is htat what we are saying....?? Or do we have to make them out of alluminum we purchase (which would seem like a waste of time and money clearly not what the GDC intended)

Re: Minibot material madness
 

The rule for aluminum is much more restrictive. You can have your set screw, but not your pinion and gears.

<R92> H. Raw aluminum welding rod, sheet, 90° angle, u-channel, tube, bar that is not sold in pre-perforated or pre-punched form.

Unless they are TETRIX gears.

Re: Minibot material madness
 

Gears are not punched or perforated - they are generally hobbed. So the rule doesn't appear to apply to them. It seems the rule only applies to punched and perforated parts... read that as you will.

Re: Minibot material madness
 

If gears are hobbed they have been pre-machined, implying that the aluminum they're made of is no longer in it's "raw" form. It would be a bit of a risk to not Q&A it, though as the rules stand right now I could see it argued either way.

It's like trying to argue that "pinion wire" is sometimes sold as "pinion rod", then linking the association of the material of the pinion rod to its legality in the rules. Nothing explicitly bans it, yet only a small vague area in <R92-H> allows it (or not, depending on how it's interpreted).

Re: Minibot material madness
 

Exactly the point- aluminum rod is allowed. I know for a fact I can take AL rod to gear manufacturer and have him make me a hobbed aluminum gear. That being said then should I pay $500 for said gear when I can buy one for 5 dollars at a hobby store?

Same with AL pulley stock I can make it or I can make it from pre machined AL pulley stock... as well as the flanges,....other than saving dollars its not making the kids any smarter to pay more for something custom made when they can buy it off the shelf... what am I missing??