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jvriezen jvriezen is offline
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FRC #3184 (Burnsville Blaze)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Rookie Year: 2008
Location: Burnsville, MN
Posts: 644
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Re: Rookie Team needing some help

As a rookie team with (I'm guessing) little on site assistance from veteran teams, it sounds great that you are getting a robot that can contribute to the game.

It would be good to post detailed pictures of your robot as there are several common 'rookie' mistakes that you may not know you have made.
  • Robot volume restrictions -- be sure to have at least 1/2" of 'buffer' planned.
  • Bumper coverage of frame
  • Bumper construction and attachment. Use decent grade 3/4 plywood or a hardwood board (e.g. oak), not chip board, pine board, OSB, etc.
  • Everything starting inside your 'frame perimeter.' For example, if your gear handling piece is leaning out over your bumper and does not move, you've got a problem.
  • Wiring gauge and wire color. Since you mostly have only a drive train at this point, you will typically want 12 awg wiring to your drive motors.
  • Secure battery mounting. If someone can pull out your battery by vigorous pulling, twisting, etc. without explicitly undoing its securing mechanism, or if you batter could fall out if two people turned your bot upside down (or any other direction) and shakes your robot then you may have a problem.
  • Main power switch accessibility -- It should be easy to reach quickly, without risk of injury from moving parts, but should also be immune from getting turned off from flying fuel or gears dropped near your bot.

Good luck !
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John Vriezen
FRC, Mentor, Inspector #3184 2016- #4859 2015, #2530 2010-2014 FTC Mentor, Inspector #7152 2013-14
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