Plexiglass Adhesives for electrical box

[EricH]

As far as my memory goes, plexiglass (acrylic) is not and has not been forbidden. In 2005, 330 used a sheet for one of their side armor pieces. It took a hit from a robot--that had traveled up the rather steep defensive wedge/outrigger on that side, mind you--and shattered into several large pieces. We replaced it with Lexan and had no further incidents of that sort.

[Teched3]

I guess I've been around this Cmpetition for too many years, and couldn't tell you when FIRST stopped specifically banning Plexiglass. I guess it may have happened when they limited us to the amount of certain materials, figuring the robot weight was self-limiting. However, as pointed out by several others, it is a useable material and NOT specifically prohibited by any rule this year that I can find. However, Lexan (polycarbonate) is far superior, easier to machine and work, and definitely safer in the heat of battle. It is the only choice as far as our robot is concerned where this type of material is appropriate. We have made wheels, transmission plates, and component mounts with it over the years. In addition, you can be sure that the plastic on the playing field is polycarbonate and NOT plexiglass, and for good reason .

[dlavery]

I think you guys may be recalling the effects of an implicit ban. I do not believe that there was even an explicit ban on acrylic. However, there were several years where the non-KitOfParts items were severely constrained, and additional materials were restricted to only those available from Small Parts, Inc. and a very particular list of "approved additional materials." We were allowed to use "one (1) 4 foot by 4 foot sheet of 1/4-inch polycarbonate." No other polymer-based plastics were permitted. So the rules effectively prevented the use of acrylic, without ever specifically saying that it was a "banned" material.

-dave



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