Spectrum 3847 | Build Blog 2023

[EmmaS]

Bumper Numbers & Wrapping Process

“I’d rather have a bad robot and good bumpers [than a good robot and bad bumpers]” - Allen Gregory IV, 2023
Only two weeks late- here’s a bumper post!

Bumper Numbers

We use our laser cutter to cut this adhesive backed material to make our bumper numbers. They’re stickers, so we don’t have to sew anything. They do rub off during matches sometimes so we cut lots of extra sets.

Wrapping

The process takes two to three people. Experienced members usually make and wrap our bumpers to ensure they are of high quality.

You’ll need a staple gun, a hammer, and gaff tape.
Use a hammer to smash down any staples that don’t lie perfectly flat and a flathead screwdriver and pliers to pull up regretful staples.

Steps:

1. Cut fabric to size so there’s a few inches of overlap on the inside and about seven inches of overlap in length.

2. Place the bumpers like this, back side of the bumper on the floor first.
   

   

3. Fold the top side of the bumper down first, so the raw edge faces toward the top side. This is so the raw edge can’t catch on the robot when putting it on the robot. Pull tight and staple down. Staple about ~7 inches or more from the corner so there is enough fabric to wrap it.
   

   

4. Corner time! Rotate the bumper until the corner is in the air. We fold both sides of a corner at the same time, one person on each side. Fold the fabric on the top end like this, so its fold makes a vertical line. The fold should form a pocket away from the corner.
   

   

5. Try really hard to fold the fabric on the other side of the corner to make a 90 degree angle with the first fold. We end up settling for 60 degrees because 90 might actually be impossible.
   

   

6. Once both sides of a corner are folded, hold them in place and flip the corner back to the ground. Snip any inconvenient folds.
   

   

7. Ensure that the fabric overlaps correctly (top side under bottom) before stapling the folded fabric down.
   

   

8. Time for a side. Our bumpers this year have bolts sticking out of them so we cut slits for them. Pull the fabric tight and staple.
   

   

9. Repeat 3-8 around until all the sides except for the first side are finished.

10. There should be several inches of overlap. Fold the raw edge of the fabric inward about two inches to form a seam. Pull tight and staple.
    

    

11. Tape the inside raw edge down with gaff tape.