Is this considered sharp?

is this U-channel considered sharp? Will it pass the robot inspection? do you have any ideas on how to do an end cap for this? Is there any 3D CAD file that you can share or online where I can buy it? I


appreciate any help you can provide.

Depends on your inspector. If you are concerned, probably best to play it safe and fix the issue.

Get a deburing to to clean it up if you are concerned: Amazon.com

Edit: spelling is hard.

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If you feel like you could cut or scrape yourself on it, it’s probably too sharp. Some inspectors may have a problem with it, and some might not. Either way, I would probably just round off those corners with a file to be safe.

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Yes as an RI, I would call that sharp. It is also easy to fix. With a file break the 90 degree corner. Slightly rounded or 1/8ish fillet works. Making an end cap would be nice but not in my interpretation a rule requirement.

On our robots we take an angle grinder with a flappy wheel and knock off these sort of sharp edges in about a minute. (If you are at an event be sure to use and angle sander and not an angle grinder :slight_smile: )

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A freshman with a file will also work sufficiently.

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But the freshman powered sander it more fun.

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That depends on the freshman. If your team is fortunate enough to have a grey haired metal shop teacher on board, the designated freshman can be taught how to use a file correctly. If no grey hair is available, you might have some upper class students with the right experience to provide similar training.

Untrained filers can do more harm than good, or spend way to much time, or both.

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The problem with greyed haired shop teachers is they tend to think that learning to file properly is a right of passage bordering on hazing. :slight_smile: Having said that, it drives me nuts to watch people back dragging a file.

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whipple111907

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Nothing like watching someone back dragging a dirty file flat to the cut, with no pressure applied…

For students reading this who don’t have a local shop teacher:

(I’m sure there’s some good YouTube tutorials videos out there as well)

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What we do is if you can rub a baby on it then it’s okay

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Before YP we used to use a baby’s but for comparison.

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The standard I like to use when instructing my students is as follows.

If you don’t feel safe rubbing it against your face, not hard, but with some actual pressure, then you have not deburred your part fully.

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You will poke your eye out

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No, you’re NOT getting a Red Ryder!

If you can use it to shave with, you didn’t deburr it right.

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I am always telling my students that holding it in you hand is bad and any noise you are making is also bad. Vibration in your hand or making sound is literally you wasting energy, that is energy that is not CUTTING the part. Clamp the part or hold it against something that is actually solid!

I said IF they don’t FEEL safe, not to actually do it!

If you wouldn’t want people to rub their fingers against it then yes it’s sharp.

I would either file it down OR you could put electrical tape over it if your in a time crunch

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If we are in a time crunch we usually put grey gaffers tape over the corners of the metal to soften the edges.