Answered: Clarification on <R7> c.

[sabydady]

I have a question regarding the rule <R7>, specially section b. and c. quoted below.

b. Any parts which are identical to legal VEX parts. For the purposes of this rule, products which
are identical in all ways except for color are permissible. Note: It is up to inspectors to
determine whether a component is “identical” to an official VEX component.
c. Any #4, #6, #8, M2, M2.5, M3 or M4 screw up to 2" long, and any commercially available nut to
fit these screws

At a recent tournament in which I was the Head Referee a team was using #8 Nylon screws with their respective nut.

(Similar to these)

Other teams were alleging it was illegal to use those screws.
My final decision was that the screws were legal since rule <R7> doesn’t explicitly say that section’s b. statement of “Identical” applies to section c. “Any #4, #6, #8, M2, M2.5, M3 or M4 Screw”.

My understanding is that Sections a. through j. from rule <R7> have no relation and all are independent specifications of what can be used aside legal vex equipment. Is that judgement correct?

Thank You.

Javier Morales
Puerto Rico Institute of Robotics

[Karthik]

@sabydady

I have a question regarding the rule <R7>, specially section b. and c. quoted below.

At a recent tournament in which I was the Head Referee a team was using #8 Nylon screws with their respective nut.

(Similar to these)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31FnTgZESiL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Other teams were alleging it was illegal to use those screws.
My final decision was that the screws were legal since rule <R7> doesn’t explicitly say that section’s b. statement of “Identical” applies to section c. “Any #4, #6, #8, M2, M2.5, M3 or M4 Screw”.

My understanding is that Sections a. through j. from rule <R7> have no relation and all are independent specifications of what can be used aside legal vex equipment. Is that judgement correct?

Thank You.

Javier Morales
Puerto Rico Institute of Robotics

Your judgement was correct. Nylon #8 screws would fall under <R7c> and are legal. Your analysis of the situation is perfect.