Reusing Parts

[Sachiel7]

Ok, mainly this is the deal. I have my wonderfully awesome crab drive design. This is the first year we actually have a bot left over from the previous year...I won't go into details there, but basically our team has been reformed a few times. Anyway, I just wanted to know what kinds of parts can be re-used from year to year. We have more than enough sprocket/chain/shafting on our 2003 bot for at least half the drive system I've got, and this would greatly take a chunk out of cost. So here's a list of the things I'd like to know if we can reuse:

-Sprockets
-Chain
-shaft
-Metal pieces(angle, for example)
-Wheels? (I don't plan using them in my design, but I thought I'd ask)
-Plexiglas (just curious)
-Small things (bolts/screws/other fasteners)

I would assume we can reuse most of these items. There really isn't anyway for FIRST to check if it's reused anyway, but I'm guessing that their original price will need to be included in the $3,500 cost list we need for inspection. It would also seem rather redundant to spend hundreds of dollars for things we already have. I've heard of team's stripping their bots for parts, but what's actually getting used?

[sanddrag]

That all sounds right and fair to me but I am no rules expert.

[Joe Ross]

According to last year's rules, all of the above would be allowed, because they are off the shelf parts. They would need to be counted in the $3500.

However, that was last year's rules. Don't plan too much because the rules can and do change yearly. (Last year was the first year with the 3500 rule)

[Sachiel7]

Yeah, I'm sure they'll probably change the rule a bit, but that's ok. All our parts came from northern tools, If I remember correctly.

[KenWittlief]

maybe we can answer the question by saying what you cant do.

You cant use any parts that were machined or fabricated BEFORE the kickoff of this years competition.

So you cant reuse the subsystems you designed last year unless you build new copies this year. You can reuse any parts that you bought off the shelf at any time (a gear is a gear)

but you cant use anything that was modified, machined, drilled, soldered, assembled...

and dont forget, that includes your operator interface, controls, sensors, customs inputs.

You can re-use designs from previous years, but you have to build/fabricate all custom parts after the kickoff and before you ship the bot.

One thing I would strongly recommend. During the first week after the kickoff, forget about everything your team did or built in the past - think about WHAT your robot needs to do to compete effectively in THIS years events

we dont know what the game will be this year - you may of had the best drivetrain in the world for last years competition, and it might be the worst possible thing you could use this year.

One of the keys of engineering is to carefully analize the problem you are trying to solve, then think of the best way to solve that problem. Each year the problem that has to be solved is how to play the game.

And each year, the fundemental problem is changed - on purpose, so the teams will need to go through the entire engineering design cycle.