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Unread 15-01-2017, 14:40
XxTerribleLiexX XxTerribleLiexX is offline
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Question Comp. tools

Hello, We are a rookie team we are wondering what tools will we need during a competition?
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Unread 15-01-2017, 14:43
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Re: Comp. tools

Teams are generally willing to share tools, but you should still bring your own, If your team has one primary toolbox, bring that. Otherwise, bring what you can transport and won't crowd up your pit too much.
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Unread 15-01-2017, 14:44
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Re: Comp. tools

Quote:
Originally Posted by flemdogmillion View Post
Teams are generally willing to share tools, but you should still bring your own, If your team has one primary toolbox, bring that. Otherwise, bring what you can transport and won't crowd up your pit too much.
This is true but I'd suggest
If you used it while building the robot bring it but, you'll also have a better idea as the season goes on and you start making repairs on your robot
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Last edited by JR0405 : 15-01-2017 at 14:48.
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Unread 15-01-2017, 14:58
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Re: Comp. tools

It's also important that you bring safety glasses for anyone who will be working in the pit, and other necessary safety equipment, like a fire extinguisher. I believe th Admin Manual has more details about pit requirements.
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Unread 15-01-2017, 15:11
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Re: Comp. tools

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Originally Posted by dmaggio744 View Post
It's also important that you bring safety glasses for anyone who will be working in the pit, and other necessary safety equipment, like a fire extinguisher. I believe th Admin Manual has more details about pit requirements.
Heres the link to the replacement for the Admin Manual, it has all the information you should need regarding events.
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Unread 15-01-2017, 15:50
Boltman Boltman is offline
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Re: Comp. tools

Hey rookie good luck... try to make your bot easy to repair , think about how easy it is to replace components leave some to work on it. Be sure to bring your tools, try to use a subset of hex sized bolts so you don't have too many variables. , if you forget there is a machine shop that will do basic cuts very basic. You can always do a pit speaker request for a tool or part at the competition . Teams will try to help. We help and have been helped several times..sometimes you just have 20 minutes to fix it be ready. I mean tear it apart and reassemble because what broke is inside...murphy law.

My advice is to bring everything you think you'll need, because there will be times you use a lot of it. Any critical component bring extra because the chances of finding exactly what you used go way down unless you get really lucky

This game will stress bots out but not as brutal on robots as last year (we build tough bots and we broke 6 times with major components) the year before no defense still had breakage of our lift and chain, our first year we built a tank and pretty much took the damage a goalie bot. This year there IS defense so be prepared to have stuff break....unless you overbuild a tank.

Bring something to hand out to other teams (stickers, buttons, trinkets etc) and the kids that stop by your pit, also a small leaflet on you robot capabilities is good . Bring nice binders on your team business plan and story. Have your pit look good (always staffed by someone who can talk intelligently about your team) even if you don't win the Judges always are looking for sharp first year teams and reward those that put in effort. We made Rookie All Star (we weren't the best but had a good story and plan) and the was great we had a solid business plan and did ok in competition. That first year trip to the championships really helped our team improve in subsequent years, its crucial I think to see the best in action , the best in the World and know whats needed to compete with them. I wish every team early could go to the Championship it makes a huge difference seeing the best up close and talk to them. We got killed in St Louis but it was great for the team.
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Last edited by Boltman : 15-01-2017 at 16:12.
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Unread 16-01-2017, 12:31
GreyingJay GreyingJay is offline
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Re: Comp. tools

Lots of good advice.

One tip that I'd like to give is, pack light and smart. It's cool to wander the pits and see teams with giant rolling tool chests filled with every tool under the sun, but as a new team last year we had neither the money to buy such a giant toolbox, nor the tools to fill one, nor the means to transport one (no trailers or trucks). The toolbox we brought to competition was a small handheld one with cantilevered sections. This was plenty of room for all the tools we actually needed.

A great idea is to standardize on the types of fasteners you will use on your robot and get them all from the same source. This way you know exactly what tools you'll need to work on them in the pit. Bring only the tools that you'll need to work on the stuff that is actually on your robot. This way you don't need to pack an entire 500-piece socket set, but only the 5 or 6 sizes of sockets and allen keys that you really use. Should you find that you unexpectedly do need an obscure size of tool, another team will be glad to lend it to you.

Good luck!
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Last edited by GreyingJay : 16-01-2017 at 12:40.
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Unread 16-01-2017, 12:39
Steven Smith Steven Smith is offline
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Re: Comp. tools

If you have the means to load into a trailer (with loading ramp), you can get a toolbox. Otherwise, try to keep the largest (heaviest) item you have to load <100 lbs so you can team lift onto a bus/van etc, as well as unload at the venue. Lots of teams like totes and a cheap carpet dolly.

Also, if you can't find the tool you need, you had to pay the time/weight/space penalty to get it to competition and still can't use it. Invest in some form of organization system that makes sense to you and your team.
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Unread 16-01-2017, 12:45
GreyingJay GreyingJay is offline
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Re: Comp. tools

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Smith View Post
Also, if you can't find the tool you need, you had to pay the time/weight/space penalty to get it to competition and still can't use it. Invest in some form of organization system that makes sense to you and your team.
We like the Stanley organizer bins with removable trays, and the Harbor Freight knockoffs. We use them to organize all our small parts and fasteners, and we built a wooden rolling rack to use in our shop as well as to bring to competitions: https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1...8e&oe=58D952EE
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Unread 16-01-2017, 12:49
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Re: Comp. tools

Wrenches and drivers of every size you have on the robot is CRUCIAL. Never go to a competition without at least one for each size.

Cutting tools have understated importance. Bring a sawzall (reciprocating saw) for the 'fine' adjustments you will inevitably have to make.

A good cordless drill set is a must, along with some clamps to hold your work down.

You also want basic electrical supplies. Soldering iron, heat gun, heat shrink, electrical tape, wire cutters/strippers, and plenty of replacement connections.

Power strips are useful for everyone too.

These are the basics, but you probably will need more depending on how you built the robot.
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Unread 16-01-2017, 15:24
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Re: Comp. tools

We generally pack a toolbox of standard hand tools such as wrenches, socket set, hammer, mallet, pliers, files, allen key sets, hacksaw, wire strippers, and screwdrivers. As far as power tools go, we generally bring a hand drill, an impact driver, a dremel, and a soldering iron.

Although you only asked about tools, I figured I should mention some other things we always bring. We always bring a fire extinguisher, a ton of saftey goggles, gloves, a first aid kit, extra nuts and bolts, a selection electronics components (crimps, splices, fuses, etc...), a power strip, an extension cord, electrical tape, heat shrink, battery chargers, pneumatic tubing, extra wire, zip ties, duct tape, and of course our drive station.

I might be forgetting a few things, but these are generally the things my team makes sure to bring to competition. There are definitely other things we bring, but they aren't essential like our flag or our shelving unit.

Hopefully this gives you guys a general idea, but like a few people already said, bring what you think is necessary for your team. Also, don't forget that usually the other teams at your competition are nice and are more than willing to lend you items if you forgot something!

Good luck with this season!!
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Unread 15-01-2017, 15:07
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Re: Comp. tools

Our travel tool chests stays pretty much the same each year but we will also add some tools for specific needs for that year. This can be a good start to think about what your team should travel with. You may or may not need all the tools on this list, generally we use about 30-40% of the tools on this list for basic maintenance. But we bring it all in case we have an unexpected failure that requires more specialized tooling. For example in 2014 we brought a large crimping tool to crimp aircraft cable for our winch mechanism. Since that was specific to that years design we have not traveled with the large crimping tool the last two years.

Here is our preliminary tool checklist that we use. Obviously there are some tools that are used more frequently than others. Also our team standardizes our tools and has a color pattern in lab. For example a 10-32 bolt uses a red T handle which corresponds to 1/8 inch T handle. The 10-32 nut also uses a red socket which translates to a 3/8 inch wrench. That way a students can become faster at assembly and gathering tools as well as minimizing mixing up 10-32 and 8-32 nuts and bolts.

I have attached our color code and travel tool chest inventory list to the post. Good Luck!!!
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File Type: xlsx BCRcolorCode.xlsx (14.0 KB, 13 views)
File Type: xlsx Travel Toolbox Contents.xlsx (12.9 KB, 20 views)
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