Is competing at multiple regionals REALLY fair ?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by ICanCountTo19

Note: this is thread has gone way off topic from multiple regionals and I will continue that trend.



Although I do like the quote I don't completely agree with how applicable it is. Hypothetically, I can work at a mill for 2 hours making a part from a drawing that I worked equally hard on. Yes I am successful and the part works, but I spent 2 hours more than a team with a CNC mill that doesn't need to work as hard or as long to achieve the same thing. Or they could order the part and get in machined professionally...I hate to say it but...there are some circumstances in which cash can be a substitute for hard work. With more time and resources there is not an even playing field.

Very true, but those teams work hard to get those things- to have access to a CNC mill, to get machine shops to donate time to make their parts. These are things anyone can do.

For example, machining resources. Get out the yellow pages and start calling every machine shop within 25 miles of you. I guarantee you will find more than one who is willing to help you out. We have found 3 or 4 locally who have helped us at one point or another in the last 3 years (with a significant amount of work), and 968 has done the same with many more shops.

Another thing to look for is community colleges with machine tool technology programs. You can often take the intro class, and then sign up for an open lab class to make personal projects (ie: robot parts)