Rule R18?

[mrnoble]

You may bring to the competition up to 45 pounds worth of parts for your robot that either you, or someone whom you paid or who sponsors you, made or modified specifically for the robot. This does not include items such as motors, screws, or other Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) parts, nor does it include raw materials, such as uncut aluminum rod or sheet stock, for example. Raw material and COTS parts you are allowed to bring as much as you like.

None of the items allowed in the 45 pounds need to be in your bag for B&T day. You may set them aside to bring to competition, or you may continue to work on them after B&T, and add them to the robot when you unbag it at competition.

R18 also specifically says that some items are excluded from the bag and don't count toward the 45 pounds; these include bumpers, batteries, and the operator console.

[alexander.h]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

You may bring to the competition up to 45 pounds worth of parts for your robot that either you, or someone whom you paid or who sponsors you, made specifically for the robot. This does not include items such as motors, screws, or other Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) parts, nor does it include raw materials, such as uncut aluminum rod or sheet stock, for example. Raw material and COTS parts you are allowed to bring as much as you like.

None of the items allowed in the 45 pounds need to be in your bag for B&T day. You may set them aside to bring to competition, or you may continue to work on them after B&T, and add them to the robot when you unbag it at competition.

R18 also specifically says that some items are excluded from the bag and don't count toward the 45 pounds; these include bumpers, batteries, and the operator console.

When you say that motors are not included, do you mean that they don’t count in the 45 lbs, or that we’re not allowed at all to include them?

[mrnoble]

Motors and anything else that you put on the robot AS BOUGHT through a commercial vendor (such as Ace Hardware or AndyMark) is known as COTS. Extras of these are NOT part of the 45 pounds. Bring three extra CIM motors to competition; they will not count toward the 45 pounds. Bring a box of 10-32 screws; it will not count either.

[eddie12390]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

Motors and anything else that you put on the robot AS BOUGHT through a commercial vendor (such as Ace Hardware or AndyMark) is known as COTS. Extras of these are NOT part of the 45 pounds. Bring three extra CIM motors to competition; they will not count toward the 45 pounds. Bring a box of 10-32 screws; it will not count either.

Except if it is a part of a team fabricated component (for example, if you are using the 3 CIMs on your shooter) they do count towards the weight limit.

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by eddie12390

Except if it is a part of a team fabricated component (for example, if you are using the 3 CIMs on your shooter) they do count towards the weight limit.

Half correct. If you put the CIM into a gearbox, it is considered "fabricated" as Andy Mark does not sell them pre-coupled. However, if you were to bring in the gearbox and the CIM and couple them at competition, it would be considered COTS.

[eddie12390]

Originally Posted by CalTran

Half correct. If you put the CIM into a gearbox, it is considered "fabricated" as Andy Mark does not sell them pre-coupled. However, if you were to bring in the gearbox and the CIM and couple them at competition, it would be considered COTS.

I'm not sure how that makes what I said half correct, I simply said that combining COTS with or without other materials makes them count towards the 45 pound limit.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by CalTran

Half correct. If you put the CIM into a gearbox, it is considered "fabricated" as Andy Mark does not sell them pre-coupled. However, if you were to bring in the gearbox and the CIM and couple them at competition, it would be considered COTS.

Just make sure there are no pinion gears on the CIMs.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Gregor

Just make sure there are no pinion gears on the CIMs.

Or crimped terminals on the wires.

[TheMadCADer]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Or crimped terminals on the wires.

Or make sure that even with the motors, the assembly is still under the 45 pound limit. No need to make extra work at competition if you still have weight left to use.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Or crimped terminals on the wires.

Or even trimmed wires...

[Zaque]

I have a question about this rule. Our team bought the unassembled ball shifters from VEX. If we assemble these, do they count towards our 45 pounds?

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Zaque

I have a question about this rule. Our team bought the unassembled ball shifters from VEX. If we assemble these, do they count towards our 45 pounds?

As I read the rules (see the glossary definition of COTS, which doesn't directly address your question but is related), the shifter is only COTS in its unassembled state. Leave it in the box.

[FrankJ]

Per Q&A Q257: Yes, a MECHANISM which has been assembled from a kit from a vendor is considered a FABRICATED ITEM.