Are You EPICALLY overweight?

[ZakuAce]

I'm curious how many other teams are epically overweight. We're 30 pounds over LOL. I probably shouldn't be lol'ing, but it is 11:52PM, I just got home from a 15 hour build session, and I find the word 'potato' funny.

[smurfgirl]

Everyone's been there. In 2006, on the Saturday before ship we weighed in at around 140, were about 5'4" in height, and had a cg so high it was pretty much instant flippage. Basically we had three days for a total redesign. Since then we've learned to budget weight starting from day 1, and have payed careful attention to how designs to develop. Call your situation a learning experience as well.

[waialua359]

We were 5 days ago and trimming our robot down was just about as hard as doing it in real life in a few days!!!!!!

[fordchrist675]

Originally Posted by smurfgirl

Everyone's been there. In 2006, on the Saturday before ship we weighed in at around 140, were about 5'4" in height, and had a cg so high it was pretty much instant flippage. Basically we had three days for a total redesign. Since then we've learned to budget weight starting from day 1, and have payed careful attention to how designs to develop. Call your situation a learning experience as well.

Same for us in 06 shipped 20 lbs over the SVR machine shop was the main reason we were able to compete lol we are under by about 10

[nahstobor]

For once 612 isn't over weight. Last year we were a good 8lbs over when we showed up to our first regional.

But this year sorry, we are 20lbs under . Switch to aluminum bolts, they save weight!

[Cow Bell Solo]

We had been at least 20 pounds over weight a week ago, so we decided that our robot should go on a diet plan and have liposuction, we lost 34 pounds. We still needed to add stuff. We went from 1/4 inch thick metal side plates for our shooter to some lexan, went from 26 pounds to 7.5(and that didn't have any of the holes drilled out or corners cut off). We were all happy once we got rid of that weight.

[TheOtherGuy]

Quite a few hours of this gets you this. 40 lbs in 3 days!

But seriously, that doesn't sound fun! Do you have a lot of unnecessary weight?

[ZakuAce]

Originally Posted by TheOtherGuy

Quite a few hours of this gets you this. 40 lbs in 3 days!

But seriously, that doesn't sound fun! Do you have a lot of unnecessary weight?

Yeah we think we know an easy way to trim off at least 15 pounds by changing the roller/belt system. The plastic hopper material is also heavier than is needed. I'm sure we can get it off. Our first year we were 70 pounds overweight at the start of week 6, but then we did significantly redesign the robot that year. The problem for us is we have to use all the CIM motors, they are heavy. Note to self: always assume you have to use all the CIMs for your robot when planning. Besides, I need something to hole saw during the regional
Oh and our crate is overweight too, with hte robot inside with nothing else IF it weights 120lbs, we have 20lbs of weight left before hitting 400lbs.. ROFL. Have to use our crate from last year.

[Akash Rastogi]

Best thing to do is design initially with weight in mind...you'll learn that soon enough.

We're 120.0 right now and finished w/o making any weight mods. Will trim it down a bit just to leave a bit of room for different things if we feel the need.

[ZakuAce]

Well I'm a senior so I won't be on the team next year, but I'll be sure to make sure the mentors remember. We always over engineer everything.

Oh and we will be at the Sussex practice regional tomorrow (later today? LOL) so I hope other teams can have helpful suggestions. I wish I had more pics to post right now, but we were too busy to take any.

[diesel]

Originally Posted by ZakuAce

Well I'm a senior so I won't be on the team next year, but I'll be sure to make sure the mentors remember. We always over engineer everything.

Mentors last year and this year told you guys to watch weight.
Last year you were 7-8 pounds overweight 3 days before ship.
This year you are 30 pounds overweight 2 days before ship date.
Next year is it going to be 60 pounds overweight 1 day before ship date?

Should of listened to mentors sooner.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by diesel

Should of listened to mentors sooner.

Wisdom.

[Enigma's puzzle]

We too are slightly overwieght but we came up with a better plan, we are going to convince the judge that Dean meant 120 lbs on the moon, so 740 on earth, we will let you know how it works.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Enigma's puzzle

We too are slightly overwieght but we came up with a better plan, we are going to convince the judge that Dean meant 120 lbs on the moon, so 740 on earth, we will let you know how it works.

I think you'll find that the legal definition of a pound actually describes a mass, not a force. That's why spring scales, which measure force, often bear the caption "not legal for trade". Balance scales and calibrated masses are not affected by gravity.

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by ZakuAce

We always over engineer everything.

You probably mean that you make everything too big and strong, which is kind of the opposite of over engineering it. Engineering means designing, and the art of design is to do the most with the least....so a well engineered robot will be light, simple, inexpensive, easy to build, work well, etc.

It sounds like you didn't do enough engineering.

(the term "over engineer" is a pet peeve of mine)