Fabricated Items same as COTS

[rich2202]

I wish they gave an exception to Fabricated Items to allow long lengths to be cut down to more manageable lengths.

[Thad House]

Originally Posted by rich2202

I wish they gave an exception to Fabricated Items to allow long lengths to be cut down to more manageable lengths.

I've usually seen this be allowed. Since most aluminum stock comes in 20ft lengths, it would be entirely unreasonable to expect teams to not cut it down. In fact, most vendors will cut it down to managable lengths. Fabricated items is defined as "modified partially or completely into the final form in which it will be used on the ROBOT," and I would argue that stock just cut to random lengths is not counted as a fabricated item. If it had holes in specific locations, or was cut to a specific length knowing it was going to be used for a specific purpose, then yes it would be fabricated. However, just random stock would be fine to bring in.

However, if you did things such as paint, sandblast, powdercoat the parts so they looked better, I would see that as not allowed. The only things I would as an inspector allow is cut to a shorter length to make transportation easier, or random holes that are not drilled in specific areas. Anything more then that I would consider fabricated.

[Scott Kozutsky]

The real trick is to mass produce your robot so you don't have to bag it.

[rich2202]

Originally Posted by Scott Kozutsky

The real trick is to mass produce your robot so you don't have to bag it.

And have it cost $400 or less.

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by rich2202

I wish they gave an exception to Fabricated Items to allow long lengths to be cut down to more manageable lengths.

I don't think any reasonable inspector would quibble on stock cut to manageable lengths for transport. Some of the stock we get comes in 25' sticks. It gets cut in half immediately for storage. I don't think of it as fabricated parts. As long as it was not cut to size for a part.