Bumper diameter compulsory?

[Lukos]

My team had some pool noodles donated, but when we checked the diameters, they were all 2"-2.25" rather than 2.5" Is this acceptable, or do we need to go buy more?

[Rick Wagner]

You're probably OK with 2.25 inch ones because a tolerance isn't given in the spec and the pool noodles will be permanently covered and are therefore not likely to be inspected for diameter. The 2.00 inch diameter ones will probably not fill the bumper cloth well enough to be fully effective and might be detectable by inspectors.

[Trent B]

Maybe do it like this from a side view
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Two noodles and half a noodle between, that should get you closer to the dimension needed.

[NOTE]Not sure if the inspectors would get you on this.[NOTE]

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Trent B

Maybe do it like this from a side view
()(()
Two noodles and half a noodle between, that should get you closer to the dimension needed.

[NOTE]Not sure if the inspectors would get you on this.[NOTE]

I think they would. <R07-C> specifies a "stacked pair", not a stack of pool noodle parts that is 5" high.

I would also ask Q&A what tolerances there are on the noodles--i.e., is being short a quarter inch on the diameter allowable or not.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Lukos,

C. BUMPERS must use a stacked pair of 2½ inch “pool noodles” as the bumper cushion material.

These were chosen due to the availability of the raw material and it's ability to protect 150 lb robots. The 2" that you are speaking of may not be made of the same material, as a matter of fact that they may be pipe insulation or something else. These would not protect your robot from damage and more importantly would not protect other robots from contact with yours. I suggest you go find a regulation pool noodle and compare it to what you have received as a donation. Inspectors are asked to at least squeeze a bumper to know what is inside.

[Lukos]

Yeah, they're pool noodles, but from Wal-Mart, so they're cheap. The outside diameters are 2.5" at the ends, but not anywhere else... We're probably going to get some from Target or some other place.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Lukos,
Try measuring at different angles around the outside diameter. They may be the legal material but are out of round/elongated from improper storage. If they are 2.5 at the ends, I am betting they are 2.5 in the middle when formed into a circle.

[Trent B]

Al is probably right, we have some old pool noodles that got chucked in a crate with the lazy susan and some rods from previous KOPs we never used and now it keeps its deformed shape very well.

If it feels like a "regulation/standard" pool noodle and is similar in that the hole is .5" in the middle I would guess it would be fine, if it does seem to get thinner in the middle maybe contemplate adding a little bit extra in the middle area.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I should have added that a hair dryer used to slightly heat the noodle that is flattened can allow it to reshape to it's former diameter.

[Bill_B]

I just got pool noodles of the correct diameter at Target's here in CT. In case anyone's looking for them, perhaps other stores in the chain will have them too.

[Lukos]

yeah, I just checked target, and they had nothing... Target seems pretty hit-or-miss with things like this