Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Team Update #16
Non-FIRST Machine Shops
FIRST does not allow non-FIRST approved mobile machine shops at any FRC regional event sites, either inside or outside. This also includes grinding wheels, bandsaws and/or drill presses in the Pit. The local Regional Planning Committees have worked hard to provide machine shop facilities at every FRC regional event to meet your various needs.
|
This is a change from previous years. For several years now there has been a rule (<R21> this year) against "private" on-site non-
FIRST machine shops or large power tools; but
FIRST has allowed teams to use such resources if they make them available to all teams. This year such things are not being allowed at all -- I think the reason has to do with
FIRST's liability coverage. Translated:
FIRST is vulnerable to opportunistic lawyers if they allow us to use potentially dangerous tools at their events.
I'm not a big fan of this change, but if
FIRST says they need to make it then I am not going to challenge them. The shop facilities provided at every FRC event I have attended have been excellent.
At St. Louis last Thursday I had the honor of telling Paul Copioli that the Thunderchickens' band saw, which they have allowed other teams to use at FRC events for many years, would have to be shut down. Needless to say Paul was not happy with the decision, either; but he's a gracious professional and he complied with
FIRST's direction.
__________________
Richard Wallace
Mentor since 2011 for FRC 3620 Average Joes (St. Joseph, Michigan)
Mentor 2002-10 for FRC 931 Perpetual Chaos (St. Louis, Missouri)
since 2003
I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.
(Cosmic Religion : With Other Opinions and Aphorisms (1931) by Albert Einstein, p. 97)