Things Learned During Build Season

[dictionaria13]

As a rookie, I know I've learned a ton, not all totally FIRST-related. For example:

I learned that zip ties make effective hair ties,
I learned that I rock at crimping connecters onto wires,
A girl on our team who immigrated from Vietnam about two years ago learned about the kind of strippers you don't use on wires (she turned bright red when a guy on the team demonstrated by dramatically peeling off his sweatshirt).

I know I can't be the only one who's learned stuff like this. Anyone else want to share what's happened to them?

[tsakshaug]

As a mentor, I learned that getting changed to second shift at work makes it nearly impossible to work with the team

[Anupam Goli]

Always design your robot to include wires and battery mounts. Also, don't give your head programmer 1 day to debug code. What he will do instead is write 40 lines of crap code just to do a unit test, and use the time between regionals to debug.... a very not so good idea.

[ChristopherSD]

Take "concept-freeze" day seriously.

[Chomper2013]

My team's learned that the most popular question is "Where is the Wago/Measuring Tape/ Punch?"

[MathMaven]

Originally Posted by Wing

[D]on't give your head programmer 1 day to debug code. What he will do instead is write 40 lines of crap code just to do a unit test, and use the time between regionals to debug.... a very not so good idea.

A better one: Finish the robot early so that the programmers have time to PROGRAM. Seriously, we need time to write and, more importantly, to test our code. My two years so far were awful because of this, and year three likely will be stressful again.

[wilsonmw04]

What I learned during build season this year:

don't wire the PD board backwards. Bad things happen...

[Jakester9999]

Originally Posted by Chomper2013

My team's learned that the most popular question is "Where is the Wago/Measuring Tape/ Punch?"

I would also add, "Where is the 7/16" wrench?". Those will always be your go to wrench for FRC.

[MathMaven]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

don't wire the PD board backwards. Bad things happen...

Oh. Happened to us too. We burned six Jaguars that way.

[nitneylion452]

We learned that our Victor motor controller, which had never been used before, was bad. Our only experience with the famous victor, and it was negative. What are the odds?

[delsaner]

What I learned during Build Season: I miss build season.

While being in college, I was still able to help out my team some times, but I truly miss the full experience.

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by delsaner

What I learned during Build Season: I miss build season.

While being in college, I was still able to help out my team some times, but I truly miss the full experience.

Yeah I drove 4 hours on the weekends to help...but it wasn't quite the same.

[Bill_B]

Originally Posted by Jakester9999

I would also add, "Where is the 7/16" wrench?". Those will always be your go to wrench for FRC.

Or you could down-size to "where's the 3/8ths" shifting to the lighter 10-32 screws and bolts.

This year learned that 3/16" rivets are over-kill. It will be 1/8 next year. and maybe thinner gussets too. Maybe even thinner-walled square tube. Who knows?

[Hawiian Cadder]

Originally Posted by MathMaven

A better one: Finish the robot early so that the programmers have time to PROGRAM. Seriously, we need time to write and, more importantly, to test our code. My two years so far were awful because of this, and year three likely will be stressful again.

My only suggestion would be to map outputs to Direct percent V-buss and force the drivers to deal with any complex cases. Last year the robot spent 30 min before bag with the programers, with no sensors. This year we pushed and got drive encoders, gyro, as well as several other sensors and will likely add one more at competition. Hopefully work to get some time in next year, a programer in a leadership position on the team really helps with this.

[rcmolloy]

Honestly, way too much. 973 has helped me as a mentor, grow and learn so much this year. Granted, I'm no AdamHeard when it comes to design and fabrication but with just a bit more help and examples I will be gaining the tools to eventually gain that potential. The past 6 weeks were stellar and the next 6 should be even more awesome.