Thread: Flexing Vex
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Unread 09-10-2005, 14:37
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What would Dave do?
AKA: Peter Kieselbach
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Re: Flexing Vex

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Krass
So, How flexible is the material? Can I bend it repeatedly without wearing it out too rapidly? What about about cutting it? Does anybody ever use it in it's full length and if not, any recommendations what sizes I should cut it down to?
The stuff they used appears to be zinc-plated mild steel, which can be bent to shape. I recommend bending it with a minimum bend radius = .025 in (half the material thickness). All the pieces are .050 stock except the "panel", which is .032.

Like most metals, you should avoid re-bending as that would weaken it a lot. Most likely you've tried flexing a piece of metal or plastic back and forth to break it off - each time you bend it it weakens it more. This is sometimes called "fatigue".
Quote:
Should I look in to the extra materials pack? (I heard it's about $70, a little steep for me to just grab..)
Yikes! You're right: Metal and Hardware Kit $79.99 (- 10% edu. discount) How perplexing!

I'm at about the same point - I've done the Squarebot, chased the dog, started up Easy C and run the Online Code to check out the I/O. Next I think I'm going to look into what speed the Vex should be capable of. I need more speed to keep up with the dog! JVN posted the approx. speed and torque for the motor which I'll plug into his Mechanical Design Calculator and see what happens.
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Last edited by petek : 09-10-2005 at 19:39.
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