Tetrahedron Connectors

[jdhawg]

Originally Posted by TonzOFun

The kit FIRST provided gives 4 of the tetrahedron connectors, enough for one tetrahedron. Does anyone know where I could find some more, say for 4 more tetrahedrons, short of crudely milling them ourselves?

Dean (or was it Dave? That was almost 7 hours ago!) said you could buy more "Tetra Clovers" from FIRST or make them yourself out of Lexan. I checked www.usfirst.org and didn't see where they mention buying more. You might want to post a question there.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by jdhawg

Dean (or was it Dave? That was almost 7 hours ago!) said you could buy more "Tetra Clovers" from FIRST or make them yourself out of Lexan. I checked www.usfirst.org and didn't see where they mention buying more. You might want to post a question there.

Actually.. It was stated to look on www.innovationfirst.com for the clovers. Not, usfirst.org

And, a closer look yeilds this page:
http://www.ifirobotics.com/first-2005-field-parts.shtml

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Actually.. It was stated to look on www.innovationfirst.com for the clovers. Not, usfirst.org

And, a closer look yeilds this page:
http://www.ifirobotics.com/first-2005-field-parts.shtml

$14.99 for four? I guess we'll be cutting them out ourselves.

[Jon K.]

If anyone needs a MasterCAM file to mill them, I just finished up creating one, just PM me and I will email it to you, I am just going to check it against the real thing tomorrow to verify accuracy then it will be good to go.

[n0cturnalxb]

Originally Posted by Jon K.

If anyone needs a MasterCAM file to mill them, I just finished up creating one, just PM me and I will email it to you, I am just going to check it against the real thing tomorrow to verify accuracy then it will be good to go.

Okay, this sounds really dumb, but.. MasterCAM? Huh?

[Jon K.]

MasterCAM(The company that produces this software is one of our coporate sponsors.) is a CAD/CAM software that allows you to cut parts using a CNC Machine. For more info go to www.mastercam.com

[David Brinza]

The FRC Documentation web-site includes a pdf drawing for Field Element TH Connectors:

http://www2.usfirst.org/2005comp/Dra..._CONNECTOR.pdf

The material call-out is: .098 CRS ZINC PLATE

This does not appear to be a standard sheet metal gage - it's in between U.S. 12 and 13 gage. I'm sure either of these standard gages would work.

Is anyone thinking of getting a bunch of these die cut or laser cut in large quantities?

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

Is anyone thinking of getting a bunch of these die cut or laser cut in large quantities?

We can lasercut them in large quantities, but only if there is enough demand. Also I hate to say this but there would have to be some sort of benefit in it for us because of all the work. Last, it would be a big deal to ship all these out and we would have to pay for that somehow.

[cavegirl47]

We didn't get ANY tetra clovers in our kit, because they didn't even ship the black box that came with ours. So we're out of luck until we figure out how to make some of our own. That's better than waiting until Thursday for the box to arrive.

[HPA_Robotics_13]

Originally Posted by Jon K.

MasterCAM(The company that produces this software is one of our coporate sponsors.) is a CAD/CAM software that allows you to cut parts using a CNC Machine. For more info go to www.mastercam.com

My team has a Flashcut CNC mill. Is this compatible in anyway with MasterCAM or are they different companies so we wouldn't be able to use your file?

[rocknthehawk]

we could mill them or possibly use our mold injection, but i tihnk we are just going to make them out of 16-22 gauge sheetmetal...much much cheeper...maybe not as strong, but being metal it won't break, just bend if it gets bashed around.

[Jon K.]

Originally Posted by HPA_Robotics_13

My team has a Flashcut CNC mill. Is this compatible in anyway with MasterCAM or are they different companies so we wouldn't be able to use your file?

I am not sure if it will work with your machine, but you need to have MasterCAM or a program that can convert MasterCAM files to be able to load it to your machine.


You can download the file off the CD white papers here

[Mr. Van]

We just made the Tetra connectors from 1/8" HDPE sheet we had leftover from the top of the ramp of Stack Attack. Took one from the kit, traced it and cut it out using a band saw and some tin snips. They work great.

(I believe that the connectors you can get from Innovation First are metal for use with the goal tetrahedrons.)

-Mr. Van
Coach, 599