We wish some clarification on which fasteners, bearings and swivels are legal, along with having a couple of other materials questions.
Question #1: The allowable additional materials state: “Fasteners: Unlimited [except …]” and “Hinges, braces, brackets, (and other similar off-the-shelf support items): any size or amount.”
Does the concept of “hinge” and “fastener” include ANY “off-the-shelf” hardware store swivels and/or load bearing JOINTED items that attach two things together with some numbers of degrees of freedom of motion?
If so, then IMHO it would seem that as long as an item attaches two things together, AND it is “off the shelf” at a local hardware store, it SHOULDN’T matter WHICH degrees of freedom of movement it allows. (However, I’d rather ask now during the design stage than find out later it is illegal. 
Examples of standard hardware store “N degree of freedom” fastening items we’ve already found and may wish to consider using which we’d like to clarify as to their legality:
A) A couple dollar Lazy Susan “hinge”
B) A cheap “ball and socket joint”
C) Pillar bearings for drive shafts to help protect the motors from excessive torque loads.
(If [C] is illegal, what ARE allowable or recommended “shaft bearing” constructions to protect the motors? This is our first contest, and want to make sure we don’t screw up with something basic in our drivetrain construction…
Question #2: The only adhesives stated in the additional materials list are Epoxy and Hot-Melt glue. Neither are a good choice for applying to sheet rubber, which is an allowed material. Can we use a rubber cement of some kind?
Question #3: The castors are “no mod”. Can we buy a similar castor to cut up and use some of its pieces INSTEAD of the supplied one in our robot?
(This way can return the original one intact.)
Can we use additional similar castors?
Thanks!
- Keith McClary, Huron High Team #830
Question #4: Are there lubricant restrictions? If so, what lubricants are allowed?
Thanks!
- Keith McClary, Huron High Team 830
#1 will require some thought. Answer will be coming soon.
#2 Any type of glue can be used in unlimited quantity if used as a fastener (i.e. “…used for the sole intended purpose to join two or more items together with no other auxiliary purpose or function” )
#3 All the casters in the kit should have been taken off the No-Mod List. Looking at the kit list that we have posted, it does not seem to match the kit we sent out in a few areas. We will have to check this out and get back to you. BUT… …all casters both the larger ones and the smaller ones will NOT be on the No-Mod list.
While I am at it, I have had some reports that 2 slip clutches have been included in kits. We thought that we only had enough stock to put 1 per kit so we reduced the number in the kit to one, but if everyone has actually gotten 2, then we can increase the number to 2 for everyone.
#4 Lubrication of any kind is allowed as long as it is not so excessive as to get on our field and/or game pieces.
After much thought, we have decided to allow a softening of the term “hinge” to include off the shelf rotary joints
This will allow joints such as “lazy susans” and “ball joints.”
This does not include sliding joints, for example, drawer glides.
There are going to be a lot of gray areas here. I ask folks to use a lot of restraint and gracious professionalism not to push this rule too far.
We are especially concerned about holding down costs for teams and teams getting an unfair advantage.
**SO… … Not as a rule but as a personal request from me, Dr. Joe, I am asking teams that utilize these relaxed rules to limit the cost of the items to under $20 item AND to post a digital picture of the item you plan on using along with the cost and the source on this forum.
AGAIN, this in not a rule but a matter of courtesy to me. I ask you all to comply.**
Finally, as to “Pillar Bearings” I am not familiar with the term. Please upload a picture of what you mean and rule on their legality then.
Regards,
Joe J.