pic: Team 469's Robot for 2006 pic 2

[Don Wright]

loading photo ...

[Scott Morgan]

what sort of equipment did you use to make the helix?
we were going to use some emt conduit tubing on our robot and we had a hard time making a regular circle

also I think that loading from the floor through the center of the helix is a very clever idear

[Dan Petrovic]

Yet another spiral.

We used a central aluminum pipe that holds 60 aluminum rods in the formation of a spiral staircase. It's a bit heavy, but we can make it with less machining and stuff.

[Alex Cormier]

i <3 the helix! i wonder where i have seen a helix before.

[the_short1]

I really love your hopper.. looks a bit heavy, but it wins for the ammount of balls it can hold

[pakrat]

I spent a little bit of time with 469 a day or two before ship, and that hopper is money! Very light, very sturdy, and great capacity. I can see some Industrial Design in this hopper.

[shamuwong]

Oddly enough, the helix, with ball-stop mechanism, weighs 4.69 lbs.

[Don Wright]

Thanks Rich.

In fact, the helix storage weighs less than 5 pounds complete. Completely made from 0.035" wall aluminum tube. Thanks for the comments.

We are anxious for GLR.

[sanddrag]

Wow, by the look of that robot, I'd say you were 15 pounds over. But looks can be deceiving I guess.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Wow, by the look of that robot, I'd say you were 15 pounds over. But looks can be deceiving I guess.

The entire frame is made of aluminum square tubing. That stuff is hella light.

[Don Wright]

Actually, a lot of it is 1/16" thick angle...

So it's hella lighter?!?