Duct Tape? Anyone?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I am reflecting on a discussion on this subject with a GDC member following a post I made on this subject. The topic was that duct tape has never been disallowed on FRC robots. However, there have been limits on the use of adhesive tape from year to year. The thought that it was illegal is a myth, based on the statements from Dean and Woodie, that if you think about other solutions, something better looking than duct tape is bound to come up. In other words duct tape is cool, it just doesn't look right on an FRC robot. My statement on it's not being a fastener is based on the fact that it pulls apart. It is simply not the same as a threaded fastener, a wire tie, or a rivet. It should not be considered a insulating material either. Many products contain metal and are actually conductive and there is no way to distinguish conductive from non-conductive by sight.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I am reflecting on a discussion on this subject with a GDC member following a post I made on this subject.

Would this be fair to say:

Duct tape is allowed on the robot, but use as a fastener might invite further scrutiny from inspectors, especially with regards to electrical compliance and safety.

?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

Would this be fair to say:

Duct tape is allowed on the robot, but use as a fastener might invite further scrutiny from inspectors, especially with regards to electrical compliance and safety.

?

I would say that is accurate.

[ratdude747]

It boils down to this:

Can you use duct tape? Yes.

Should you use duct tape? Probably not.

[Jeff Pahl]

As I have to frequently remind the students on my team:

"The only properly engineered use of duct tape is the sealing of air duct."

If you are not sealing air duct (which I have seen duct tape used for on an FRC robot), then you are not using the proper material for the application and you have a design issue.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pahl

"The only properly engineered use of duct tape is the sealing of air duct."

Around here contractors don't even use it for ducts, because it disintegrates too quickly from the duct temperatures and exposure.

[seg9585]

It's been ingrained in me over the years that duct tape is always a big no-no on FRC robots, so I always assumed it was explicitly disallowed by the rules.

However, this year the students on my team wanted to use an 8" diameter air duct angling elbow as a passive angler for our shooting assembly and wanted to secure and smoothen the elbow joiners with ducting tape (to which I reacted -- illegal!!!). However, after looking over the rules and realizing that this is not actually an illegal material, this application seems a bit more appropriate to me.

[Clark Pappas]

It would help if we knew what the application was. Covering some bases...
*If you want to secure down a component: I'd say go to a local hardware store and get some Velcro. My two cents.
*If you want hold frame members together: Not at all stable, and probably not safe. Find a different way to attach them.
*As a covering: Id say ok on anything that doesn't involve electricity.
*As a marker: We do it with our wiring. A parent gave us some gaffers tape, and we mark different wires and components with a certain colored tape, so we can easily determine which thing is attached where. Although it isn't necessarily duct tape, duct tape can be used in the same manner. besides, as far as I know, duct tape colors are far more widely available than, say, electrical tape colors.

[WizenedEE]

Originally Posted by Clark Pappas

It would help if we knew what the application was. Covering some bases...
*If you want to secure down a component: I'd say go to a local hardware store and get some Velcro. My two cents.

How do do you attach the Velcro? I fail to see how stick-backed velcro is any better than duct tape.

We're using a bit of duct tape as a hinge for a low-load part. I can't think of an alternative to it that would work as well,

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by WizenedEE

How do do you attach the Velcro? I fail to see how stick-backed velcro is any better than duct tape.

Have you used it? We've been securing our electronics with sticky-backed velcro for years, and it works brilliantly. The industrial strength stuff is quite awesome.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

Have you used it? We've been securing our electronics with sticky-backed velcro for years, and it works brilliantly. The industrial strength stuff is quite awesome.

+1. Velcro also gives an added layer of electrical isolation.
If FRC trusts Velcro enough to keep the field elements secure while six 150 lb robots slam into them, we'll trust it with our Victors.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Clark,
Electrical tape is actually available in at least all EIA colors. The 3M color wheel, Digikey part STD-C-ND, although a little expensive is ideal for wire marking.
Joe, I am not sure using duct tape for a hinge could be considered anything other than a fastener. There has got to be a better device.

[Clark Pappas]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Clark,
Electrical tape is actually available in at least all EIA colors. The 3M color wheel, Digikey part STD-C-ND, although a little expensive is ideal for wire marking.
Joe, I am not sure using duct tape for a hinge could be considered anything other than a fastener. There has got to be a better device.

I'll have to add that to our list of things we want to order; Thanks!

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

Around here contractors don't even use it for ducts, because it disintegrates too quickly from the duct temperatures and exposure.

It's ironic that duct tape will fail over time and shouldn't be used for taping ducts. All good HVAC guys use aluminum foil tape.

I would always bring a roll of duct tape for emergency repairs at competition but would never use it to build the robot other than prototyping.

[ehobel]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pahl

As I have to frequently remind the students on my team:

"The only properly engineered use of duct tape is the sealing of air duct."

If you are not sealing air duct (which I have seen duct tape used for on an FRC robot), then you are not using the proper material for the application and you have a design issue.

Actually, you should not use duct tape to seal an air duct.
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/...tape-HVAC.html