double stick foam tape

[ewankoff]

i know its a tape but im not so sure about it being illeagal
what about velcor?

[Adam Richards]

Tape = Bad

Velcro = Good

[ewankoff]

Originally Posted by Adam Richards

Tape = Bad

Velcro = Good

thanks i tried the flow chart but that foam tape stuff didnt really fall into tape but velcro will work well too

[ChuckDickerson]

<R33> Adhesive backed tapes are NOT allowed except as follows:
• Velcro tape, any hook and loop tape or double-sided sticky foam may be used for attaching components
to the robot.
• Reflective tape may be used with optical sensors in small amounts.
• Adhesive backed tape and labels may be used for labeling purposes on wires, cables, pneumatic lines, etc.
• Electrical tape may be used as an electrical insulator.

Velcro = GOOD

Double-Sided Sticky Tape = GOOD

Duct Tape = BAD

Aren't I just quoting all kinds of rules tonight! Let's see how long it takes before someone points out a contradictory Q&A on this one, too.

[ewankoff]

thanks for that i dont have time now to go through the rules so thanks for that answer.



how do you find all these rules?

[ChuckDickerson]

CAUTION!!!! I may have been incorrect in my assertion of "Double Sided Sticky Tape = Good" comment above.

Is there a difference between FOAM and TAPE??? The rule explicitly forbids TAPE but allows FOAM.

<R33> Adhesive backed tapes are NOT allowed except as follows:
• Velcro tape, any hook and loop tape or double-sided sticky foam may be used for attaching components to the robot.

We started to use double sided sticky carpet tape to attach a component but upon closer inspection of the rule we now switched to an indoor/outdoor double sided sticky foam. How picky are the inspectors about this tape vs. foam rule? What is the real functional difference between double sided sticky tape and foam???

Can someone more wise than I please enlighten the subject? Are there any inspectors on CD that can give us a ruling?

I apologize to anyone who I may have misled if TAPE is actually not the same as FOAM.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Chuck,
I read it just as it sits. Double sided "foam" tape is allowable. There are a variety of products that have varying thickness of foam that have excellent adhesive properties used in production all the time. Many are available at hardware stores and even sewing stores and craft shops. What will come into play is how it is used. This will be a decision each inspector must rule on. I would not allow double stickie tape to be used to mount up a motor or bumper, but might expect it for attaching teflon sheet to a frame member to keep the balls from sticking to the surface. This rule remains unchanged from 2005 but did not exist in 2004. It stems from Woodie and Dean's belief that no matter what, good engineering practice does not allow duct, masking or even electrical tape to be used to hold anything on to the robot.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

It stems from Woodie and Dean's belief that no matter what, good engineering practice does not allow duct, masking or even electrical tape to be used to hold anything on to the robot.

This is apparently why the recent Q&A posts have held that tape, when not used as a fastener, can be legal under certain circumstances (such as when its adhesive is only used to attach the tape itself to the robot, and not to assemble other parts). It's not stated that way in the rules, but it seems like this is how FIRST would like us to interpret the rule.

[Dick Linn]

From Wikipedia on Duct Tape:

NASA engineers' faith in duct tape as an emergency tool was rewarded in 1970, when the square carbon dioxide filters from Apollo 13's failed command module had to be modified to fit round receptacles in the lunar module, which was being used as a lifeboat after an explosion en route to the moon. Engineers designed a workaround using duct tape and other items on board Apollo 13, relaying directions to the spacecraft's crew. The lunar module CO2 scrubbers started working again, saving the lives of the three astronauts onboard.

Ed Smylie, one of the NASA mission control engineers who designed the scrubber modification in just two days, said later that he knew the problem was solvable when it was confirmed that duct tape was on the spacecraft: "I felt like we were home free" he said in 2005. "One thing a Southern boy will never say is 'I don't think duct tape will fix it'."