...yah i think i will be getting a new nickname this year...
the damage was done with a common 1/4" drive ratchet with about 6" or 8" arm, a seemingly harmless tool for the job. ...and yes, we were using the M6 nut that came with the board, and it's the same one that's on there now. I've used
PEM studs before on a number of projects and I've never seen them torque out or snap like this one did. I'll definitely be contacting AndyMark and see what we can work out on this. We'll probably front the money for a new one and see if we can wait until after the competition to return the broken one and see if it was a metallurgical flaw (I hope that's what it was). The broken portion has an odd texture to it that I'm unfamiliar with, although I must admit my training is EE and CS, not so much mechanical.