[Andrew Remmers]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

That's good news. But they need to re-write the rules to reflect it.

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of 3D printing being allowed and believe that the rules are very poorly worded, but regardless of what any FTC official says, it is the rules, as they are written, that define the competition. (If not, then why have written rules?)

I'm very willing to accept that the rules don't say what the game designers meant them to say, but just look at the definition of a raw material. It is very clear, and very specific.

It is poor logic to argue that it says something else because you don't like what it says.

If there is something missing in my logic, or comprehension of English, I'm happy to have it explained.... but I'd be happier to see the rules tidied up a bit to say what they are meant to say.

Jason

P.S. My apologies to those who might feel I'm being a bit pedantic on this point, but the rules, as they are written are important. After reading FIRST's rule books inside and out for the past decade, I can say that they usually do an outstanding job of conveying complex ideas and regulations. They also do a good job of updating their rules when the rules don't fully reflect the intent of the game designers. I'd suggest that this is one of those times when some re-writing might be in order.

Alright lets set all of this aside and get something straight here, as I still am totally lost of what you are seeing.

<R02> In addition to the TETRIX, LEGO, and/or MATRIX components, teams may use additional materials
to construct their robots providing they meet the following constraints:
a. Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) assemblies are not permitted with the exception of the following:
1. Linear Slides.
2. Non-motorized Turntables and Lazy Susans.
3. Lead Screws and threaded rod plus compatible nuts.
4. Servo blocks (e.g. ServoCity Part # SB608SH and SB609SH).
5. #25 chain and compatible connector links and half-links.

This rule plainly says that you cant use COTS parts unless its in the list of those 5 items.

Not what we are debating about though but, alas I want to be thorough.

Prefabricated and/or Preformed COTS plastics or metal are not permitted (i.e. buckets, cups,
grippers, gears, etc.).
1. Plastic or metal sheet, plastic spacers, and extruded aluminum are not considered to be
prefabricated and are allowed with no restrictions on dimension or quantity provided no other rules are violated.

The following additional structural parts, fasteners, and materials are allowed provided that they
don’t violate other rules, such as safety, entanglement, <R03>, etc. This includes no limits on
quantity and size of the following materials:
1. Raw Material (e.g. metal, plastic, etc.) provided that it is readily available to all teams from
standard distributors (e.g. McMaster-Carr, Home Depot, Grainger, etc.). The definition of
Raw Material are items before being processed or manufactured into a functional form.

Now the bolded and underlined are the rules in question here.

Plastic, Metal, and extruded metals have no dimensional limit on their usage, as long as one fits inside the 18in^3 both rules state this effectively

Now plastic and metal come in lots of shapes and sizes but I am sure I didn't have to point that out. But sheet, tube, square stock, plate, round stock. The basic stuff, that is all considered a "Raw Material". Now I would consider something to be used in a 3d printer a very long VERY thin piece of plastic rod or round stock whatever the plastic may be.

The rule does not say that manufacturing is illegal. The rule states

The definition of
Raw Material are items before being processed or manufactured into a functional form.

Manufacturing it into a functional form is not illegal based on any rules that you have stated. If it were true then any modification of Raw stock of sheet would also be considered "illegal" based on what you are saying.

The rule does not state what forms of manufacturing or fabrication are legal or not illegal which to me opens up everything. I could go cut a gear out of a block of solid AL and use it perfectly fine. I could do the same thing about a 3d printer, and a CNC mill, lathe, EDM wire, waterjet, laser, router. Or any OTHER kind of machine I could possibly think of.

I hope this makes a little bit more sense now.

- Andrew

Edit: This is my interpretation of the rules not final.