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Unread 04-01-2009, 18:05
llama llama is offline
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AKA: Michael Goelz
FRC #2077 (Kettle Moraine Robotics/Laser Robotics)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Rookie Year: 2006
Location: Wisconsin (kettle moraine area)
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Re: Source for Orbit Ball

Quote:
Originally Posted by artdutra04 View Post
To anyone who has already broken one of these: can you find out what plastic material they are made of? I'm looking for an exact answer (such as acetal, PET, etc), not just something like "Its plastic, duh".

The reason I ask, is that after finding only four of them between two local Wal-Marts, the engineering and New England frugality instincts inside of me rang out. The orbit balls don't look very hard to [re]produce!

Using calipers, the interior plastic material is about 1" wide by about 0.1" thick (cannot tell for sure due to felt thickness), and the material they are coated with seems to be identical to the material used on stretchable Book Socks. The plastic (depending on the actual material) should be easily source-able through McMaster, and book socks aren't that difficult to find.

If someone can get me an [exact] answer within the next few days, I'll immediately place an order into McMaster to make about twenty or thirty of these balls, and then I'll raid the school supply sections of every store in the area like a loaded refrigerator.
I second the motion to getting exact specs on the materials and when i inspect the ball on monday i will post as detailed of info as i can.

the other logical way to get around the problem of unobtanium balls would be to find some sort of substitute (obviously there will be complications but its worth trying)

so far i have found this
http://www.amazon.com/Rhino-Toys-100...pd_sim_dbs_t_3

good luck to everyone! this is gonna be a challenging season