[ChrisH]

Mr Thomson,

Most veteran teams will be glad to help you. I'd help but the commute from CA is a killer. But feel free to post any quetsions you have here on CD. Please use the proper forum though.

As for drill bits, if it looks like a drill bit (ie a spiral channel running up the side) then it probably capable of cutting most things, though you may need guidance on the proper speed and feed. Machinery's Handbook is a great source for that sort of thing.

If it doesn't look like a drill bit, then it is a custom bit and is designed specifically for a particular material, like composites (we use a lot of those where I work). You probably don't need it for FIRST stuff.

A note to veteran teams: you can get help from rookies too! I've got one of the Rookie teams we're mentoring working on a solution to a specific problem because they have technical expertise in that area, and we don't. If they come up with a good solution we both win!