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Originally Posted by SarahB
If you don't know, you shouldn't answer.
As the rules read now, you can use carbon fibre on the robot as long as it is accounted for in the budget and it isn't likely to damage the field or other robots. See the flowchart on page 10 of section 5-The Robot.
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There is also the rule against hazardous materials. Sorry I forget the number. While carbon fiber is not terribly toxic, the resins you use to support it are. There are carbon fibers on the market in a form that would be affordable to a FIRST team, if used properly. So cost may not be the issue you think it is if you know where to buy and how to take best advantage of them.
But consider this:
I am a professional engineer who has spent more than 20 years building things out of graphite epoxy and other composite materials. I am an expert at what I do. I not only can make straight things, I can make shapes the metals guys ony dream about, and I do it routinely. I have a 300 lb stash of "scrap" carbon fiber at work that I can use for "free" (Aside from accounting for the raw material cost of course). We have applications on our robot this year that positively cry out to be made from composite materials. BUT WE ARE NOT USING THEM.
Because I can't figure a way to do so in our facility without exposing somebody (including me) to hazardous materials.
At work, we have a facility that is set up to handle this stuff and people who monitor the way we use it, to minimize the hazards. But it is never safe and because of the way the chemicals attack your system, it may be twenty years before you find out you just made a big mistake. Maybe I just know too much about it ... but right now I don't think it is worth the risk.
BTW if you MUST use a composite, use fiberglass. The machining is much more straightforwards as you do not need special cutters
as much. It is also stronger than, (Surprise!!!) but not as weight efficient or stiff as, carbon. It is also much cheaper.
If you want to try something, let me know and I'll tell you what I think what you're doing. Though I'll probably try and talk you out of it.
Even if something is "legal" to do, it may not be wise.
ChrisH