Time for new rules!

[archiver]

Posted by Michael Ciavaglia at 03/13/2001 4:04 PM EST


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Interior Systems.


In Reply to: Actually, I disagree
Posted by s_alaniz on 03/13/2001 11:45 AM EST:



Steve,

I think we agree but also disagree.

The best mechanisms are simple and not sophisticated. I don't think anyone could possibly disagree with that.

With the rules that FIRST has in place now, you need to have access to a shop that can make gears/sprockets/pulleys (here to refered to as G/S/P) so that you can get what you need to build your machine. This year we used the sprockets from SPI until we were 9# overweight. We had to make the same sprockets out of Aluminum. Seems simple. Well it was because we know of a shop that will make us sprockets. However, I could have gone to many other sources (off the shelf) to get them, paid less money than I did to have them custom made, and had them quicker.

I think more teams have the ability to order G/S/P from other sources (McMaster, Berg, Stock Drive Products, PIC, etc...) that have a better selection than teams have the ability to wire EDM the G/S/P that is needed.

It is sort of like re-inventing the wheel. What is the point?

The idea of this rule change would make it easier for teams to get what they need at a more reasonable price. There is no disadvantage to any team. This would only raise the bar for ALL teams to create better machines.

This will also allow many teams the ability to buy more Whoppers to use their wrappers for sketching paper.

I understand your point about management wanting you to make a prototype cheaper. But why would you want to make some part inside your company when you can buy it on the outside at a substantially cheaper price?

Just my 2 more cents.

Mike C.