Curved Bumpers

[dtengineering]

I have noticed on the Q&A forum that teams have been looking for ways to build curved or circular bumpers to match the perimeter of their curved or circular drivetrain, most recently a post from 1158.

It is possible to bend plywood by scoring it on the table saw approx 90% of the way through, then bending it into position and gluing it back up. The more scores, and the closer together they are... the tighter the radius.

Cut the scores at an angle and you start to get some really neat curves.

Is this legal? Perhaps another Q&A is in order. I do believe one Q&A stated that it was legal to bend the plywood, but another stated that it was not legal to laminate your own.

Good luck with the curved bumpers. I'm looking forward to seeing some gracefully styled streamlined robots tearing up the track.

Jason... posting this idea on behalf of another one of the 1346 teachers who showed me this trick. Makes great grippers, too.