**FIRST EMAIL**/Advance Materials List and Autodesk Virtual Kit of Parts Information

[Kevin Kolodziej]

When I first looked at the list, I thought the polycarb and diamond plate were for the player stations...but that may not be the case. There's a LOT of lumber here...156' of 2x4. Does anyone have the list from 2003 of how much lumber was needed for that ramp?

I am betting on either 4 sided ramp or, relating to the clue, a pentagular ramp with the luan as the top perhaps.

We wont' see a crash and bash like 2003, so there must be something on top of this structure as well...OR...

It may be similar to an idea I had last year with a platform 2-3' off the ground and space UNDER it for robots...game objects would have to be placed on TOP of the platform. In my game, those objects were traffic cones. Don't think we'll see those...but we'll see.

Kev

[Ryan Foley]

What I find interesting is the additional "6 boxes of varying size". In past years, these were the compressor for rookie/2nd year teams, and the kit chassis, but everyone has 6 additional boxes? This could be interesting.

Kevin: the parts lists for wood fields for 2003 and 2004 are uploaded to this post, from the looks of it, this years advance list calls for significantly more lumber than either year.

[Don Wright]

I'm so disapppointed. No toilet bowl flanges or magnets to throw everyone into wild speculation.

Since it says the lexan is needed to perfectly replicate the field, I'm guessing it's just for a side wall off some platform to stop robots from falling off and getting damaged like they did on the side of the ramp for Stack Attack 2003...

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kolodziej

When I first looked at the list, I thought the polycarb and diamond plate were for the player stations...but that may not be the case.

Kev

The list is for building "field elements"--so I doubt it includes the player stations and side rails. It definitely sounds like ramp & platform stuff.

[Justin Stiltner]

the players station was part of the construction in 2004 when there was an opening in the players station for the balls to go thru, it was only 2' or so tall and 4' long, but it was included in the materials list.

[Manoel]

I also agree that there will be some kind of raised structure with all that wood in the BOM. I believe the aluminum diamond plate is more for decorative purposes than anything else, and the polycarbonate will be used as in 2004, when it was the flooring material under the bar - slippery!
With two poly sheets that big, I'm guessing there will be two raised structures or a very big one.
Two days left

[Joe Johnson]

Originally Posted by Manoel

... I believe the aluminum diamond plate is more for decorative purposes than anything else...

I don't think so. If it was just decoration, I think that they wouldn't put in on the list. There must be some significant interaction with the aluminum plate or they would just do what they did two years ago with the risers for the chin-up bar -- have folks make the practice field out of something esle.

Also, they must plan on the 4X8 sheet being used whole. Even at 1/16 thick, I think cutting this plate in half would be more than many teams could accomplish without some pretty ragged edges.

Joe J.

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Also, they must plan on the 4X8 sheet being used whole. Even at 1/16 thick, I think cutting this plate in half would be more than many teams could accomplish without some pretty ragged edges.

Joe J.

In the pdf, it specifically states that smaller sheets are available from Homedepot. If an intact full sheet was needed, they wouldn't point us to a place to buy smaller pieces. However, it may be somesort of flooring, in which smaller pieces would not make a difference. I bet that the flooring on part of the field is diomond plate.

[Collin Fultz]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

In the pdf, it specifically states that smaller sheets are available from Homedepot. If an intact full sheet was needed, they obviously wouldn't point us to a place to buy smaller pieces. However, it may be somesort of flooring, in which smaller pieces would not make a difference. I bet that the flooring on part of the field is diomond plate.

I think what he's saying is that wherever the diamond plate is, it will be a 4 x 8 area.

the reason they point you to a place to buy smaller sheets is because not everybody lives in an area near a diamond plate retailer. but home depot is everywhere.

one thing i noticed that isn't there...mailboxes

[Peter Matteson]

Does the AL plate strike anyone else as the $58 item from the other thread given original price of $110?

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Collin Fultz

one thing i noticed that isn't there...mailboxes

Based on my experience shopping for mailboxes--

While you can buy a limited selection of standard mailboxes at Home Depot, they are expensive. I couldn't find one that fit my spec's, and ordered one off the Internet. According to U.S. Postal Service regulations, you can also build your own, and the spec's are very generalized (don't waste your time trying to search the USPS site for the spec's unless you actually want a new mailbox). Plus, FIRST would be giving away too much by listing them with the materials.

Here are my guesses about the mailboxes:

1. We will build our own from the listed materials (lumber & deck screws).
2. They're included within one of the numerous KOP boxes.
3. They ARE one of the KOP boxes.
4. There will be no mailboxes.

[Manoel]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

I don't think so. If it was just decoration, I think that they wouldn't put in on the list. There must be some significant interaction with the aluminum plate or they would just do what they did two years ago with the risers for the chin-up bar -- have folks make the practice field out of something esle.

Also, they must plan on the 4X8 sheet being used whole. Even at 1/16 thick, I think cutting this plate in half would be more than many teams could accomplish without some pretty ragged edges.

Joe J.

Yes, quite possibly. I like this new theory of aluminum and polycarbonate flooring better than my old one!

[Joe Johnson]

Does anyone know if the diamond plate in the spec sheet 3003-H22/24-TP looks like this:



or does it look like this:



The difference in terms of traction is night and day.

Just wondering.

Joe J.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Does anyone know if the diamond plate in the spec sheet 3003-H22/24-TP looks like this:



or does it look like this:



The difference in terms of traction is night and day.

Just wondering.

Joe J.

It's the first by the looks of this.
http://www.starlitho.co.uk/treadplate.htm

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

There must be some significant interaction with the aluminum plate or they would just do what they did two years ago with the risers for the chin-up bar -- have folks make the practice field out of something esle.

Of course, the double asterisk indicates that teams can substitute something else... I'm wondering if they're responding to complaints about the advance BOM being the low-cost version of the field, when some teams would prefer to build the real thing.