Thread: helix
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Unread 30-11-2009, 22:36
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Re: helix

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris is me View Post
You can use a little surgical tubing, right? That's fairly grippy. Prototype that if you want to try something other than zip ties.

You can get various different FTC legal zip ties of different stiffnesses, try stuff out. You want enough force that it will propel the balls, enough flexibility so that you can keep the helix running with balls at the top without forcing them through the shooter mechanism, and enough stiffness that balls will not roll out the bottom. If you've achieved this, maybe you don't need to look for more solutions.

This is assuming you're using a helix that goes "up". If you're using one that goes "down", test and see if you need anything other than gravity. You might not.

As for how to power it, whatever works best for your design. In FTC I preferred to use gears whenever possible (granted this was vex). They all get the job done.


yes we are doing a helix that does go up and not down and you make a valid point with the surgical tubing yes we are alloud to use that materials. as far as the different zip ties of stiffness could you sugest some zip ties that are not super stiff because we do want to keep out center post moving. we are going to probably use a PVC pipe as a center of the "helix tree"