[FTC]: Anyone know the actual height of the puck rack?

[PhilBot]

Anyone know the actual height of the puck rack?

Before anyone says "Read the manual"... I have, several times, and looked at the field drawings (the latest one).

The length of the rack mount, and the position of the retaining bolt is defined.

The problem is that the rack stand doesn't sit on the ground. It actually slides down and fits onto a vertical portion of the wall structure (see the slot cut in the bottom of the support).

So the actual height of the puck tube mounting bolt is 1' 6 3/8" above the bottom of the support, but who knows how high off the ground the actual support sits.

It could be 1/8" or it could be 1"

OK, I'm probably being more finiky than I should, but It annoys me that we have these "field drawings" but they don't really let you build a replica.

eg:
How high are the field sides? Show me on the drawing?
What are the specs for the mat material? brand, part number, color etc. (I know, but not because it's on the drawings).
After messing up the puck holder colors last time, it looks like they've messed up the starting position tape colors this time.

I'd post in the Q&A but it doesn't like my authentication....
It logs me in, but won't let me post... I think I'm just on too many forums

Phil.....

[RoboMom]

Phil, I think you should F/U with FIRST HQ and post this question in the Q & A so it can be answered for all.
Call the FTC folks re: posting. They need to know.
1-800-871-8326. ext "0" They will transfer you.
(I don't want to post names and ext. here).

[PhilBot]

Hi Jenny.

Sorry if my frustration is showing.

The FIRST FTC Q&A fourm just seems to move like molasses. The answers (to my early questions at least) seemed to take weeks, and then they are vague or contradictory.

FTC does not seem to be getting the same sort of QA that the other programs get. This latest change to the drawings is a good example. I know it's new and all..... but if it's hard for an nerdy all-rounder like me to figure out... I can't imaging how others are doing...

Phil.

[RoboMom]

Phil,
Don't apologize for your frustration.
I still think that you need to let FIRST know.
I would also contact Jeff, the FTC partner in MD, and see if he can get some movement.

[ttldomination]

1. I understand about the FTC Q & A. It is extremely slow.

2. It would be great if you tried to post something or ask FIRST and let us all know. I tried to find out how high the little knob for the racks was, and I couldn't really figure it out. Let us know.

Thankx.

[jbbjjbt]

I have the same issue. I went to the Delaware (in NJ) "scrimmage" which supposedly had an official field. I measured the heights of the puck racks. I came home and looked at the drawings. The total height I measured was less than the height on the drawing. But as best I could tell the bottom of the rack was very near the ground, maybe 1/16 inch off.

At this event I talked extensively with the person from FIRST that made the drawings. I pointed out the errors and inconsistancies that I had found. They were all fixed in the new release of the drawings. One issue that showed up was that there are two official versions of the field that are slightly different, not to mention the wooden version that I have!!

Jon Thompson
Coach FTC 177
Twisted Bots

[PhilBot]

The official Q&Q now just posted:

A1: The pivot point of the PVC mounting bolt is approximately 18.5" from the field mat. However, be aware that fields are different at all tournaments and tolerances can be +/- 1". Please design your robot with all tolerances in mind.

This jives with my "best guess" from the drawings of 18 3/8", except that I calculated from the floor and not the top of the mat.

Which begs the obvious question: Does the perimeter sit on the floor or on the mat. I've been assuming it sits on the floor.

Personally I think.. +/- 1" is a pretty wide margin on a robot with max 18" dimensions. Remember we're trying to do this is autonomous mode..

[jbbjjbt]

Originally Posted by PhilBot

The official Q&Q now just posted:



This jives with my "best guess" from the drawings of 18 3/8", except that I calculated from the floor and not the top of the mat.

Which begs the obvious question: Does the perimeter sit on the floor or on the mat. I've been assuming it sits on the floor.

Personally I think.. +/- 1" is a pretty wide margin on a robot with max 18" dimensions. Remember we're trying to do this is autonomous mode..

All the fields I've seen the wall sits on the floor. So I think the 18 1/2" should be from the floor. I agree with you about the +/- 1" tolerence being too large.

Jon Thompson
Coach FTC 177
Twisted Bots

[ttldomination]

Also, although the hole for the pivoting part of the puck rack may be 18.5", the actual little square piece to pull down the rack can be lower. So, it might depend.

jjbbjjt - How high was the rack's little square piece from the bottom of the floor? Did you measure from the foam tile?

[jbbjjbt]

Originally Posted by ttldomination

Also, although the hole for the pivoting part of the puck rack may be 18.5", the actual little square piece to pull down the rack can be lower. So, it might depend.

jjbbjjt - How high was the rack's little square piece from the bottom of the floor? Did you measure from the foam tile?

I haven't measured although I do know in DEL/NJ the pull down piece was 2" long rathar than the specified 1.5." Also on our field in my basement I have at least 1/4 " variance because the basement floor is not flat.

[ttldomination]

Hm... I see that's a real problem. Anyone consulted FIRST about this?

[Carol]

Originally Posted by jbbjjbt

I went to the Delaware (in NJ) "scrimmage" which supposedly had an official field.

Geography lesson. The scrimmage (which is run jointly by a NJ and a DE team) is held in New Jersey on the Delaware river. Hence the name.