Trackball inflation

[Laaba 80]

I was looking through the manual, and found the instructions on how to blow up the ball. I also noticed that they showed pictures of what the ball SHOULD look like when it is under-filled, correctly filled, or over-filled. I dont like this because the amount of air in the ball could make a huge difference, and I dont think that it should be determined by "I think this looks right". Has anyone seen if they say how much air to put in it instead of just pictures? I really hope that they do, and that I just missed it, or that they are going to come out with something in an update.
Joey

[MrForbes]

From last year's experience with the inflatable tubes, I strongly suggest you make you robot so it will work with underinflated, correctly inflated, and overinflated track balls.

[Laaba 80]

I completely agree. Last year for tubes however at the competitions they had gauges to fill the tubes so they had exactly the same fill. I dont remember if they told teams ahead of time how full they would be though. I know the balls may deflate through out the matches, but I feel that all balls should start with the same fill, and if they get so low that you can notice a difference, they should be refilled.
Joey

[BandChick]

Last year, it was written in the manual what approximate inflation was, but even at regionals, tubes were under and over inflated. When you're in a rush to reset and you need tubes (or balls, or anything else that's inflated), you don't always have the time to check for perfection.

Tubes that started filled and had small holes/leaks, were underinflated by the time many teams went to pick them up anyway. Expect a few completely deflated balls too, with some very large holes.

Balls/tubes actually are refilled during a competition. Usually the day before everything is inflated, and then as things get really underinflated they're replaced with new game objects, refilled, and used again later.

[MasterMkanik]

Well, you can always find the circumference of the ball is supposed to be and then physically measure the distance around the ball, and make sure they match.

[GBIT]

Originally Posted by MasterMkanik

Well, you can always find the circumference of the ball is supposed to be and then physically measure the distance around the ball, and make sure they match.

oooooooo..... good idea, didn't think of that.

[Mike@1023]

even though you want to get the trackballs at the correct size, there will be some variation at competition. when they are that big, the differences are bigger than, say if they were, 12 inches. 10% bigger on a trackball is four inches, and on a 12 inch ball would only be 1.2 inches. So leave a margin for variables.

[Miniflash]

it took me forever to pum the dang thing up yesterday. my compressor broke so i did it with a foot pump... my legs are so sore.. who knew a ball needed that much air

[davidfv]

ANyone know where to get more trackballs???

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by davidfv

ANyone know where to get more trackballs???

No. That seems to be the "million dollar question" this year so far.
FIRST has not released an official source to get spares and/or replacements as of yet..
Hopefully they will soon though with the staggering amount of requests we've seen here.

[pfreivald]

The balls look very similar to an 'Omnikin Ball' that we have in our gymnasium -- complete with poly-canvas cover. Typically, the balls are 48" in diameter, but I've found some 40" Omnikin balls on the net.

http://www.athleticimpact.com/ba552.html

http://www.sportsdirectsource.com/products/359

....unfortunately, neither one gives the precise weight.

Patrick