Answered: <R7>[d][l] - 3D Printed/Custom Manufactured Wire Management Materials

[BWorcester]

According to the Vex ITZ Game Manual:

<R7> Robots are allowed the following additional “non-VEX” components:
d. Teams may add non-functional decorations provided that these do not affect the robot performance in any significant way or affect the outcome of the match. These decorations must be in the spirit of the competition. Inspectors will have final say in what is considered “nonfunctional”.
l. Commercially available items used solely for the purpose of bundling or wrapping of 2-wire, 3-wire, 4-wire cables, and pneumatic tubing, for the purposes of protection, organization, or management are allowed. This includes but is not limited to electrical tape, cable carrier, cable track, etc. Note: it is up to inspectors to determine whether a component is serving a function beyond protecting and managing cables.

This thread from the Skyrise season was answered for VexU. It also included the relevant quote by Karthik:

This would definitely not be permitted in the VRC. Essentially and wire management devices must be commercially available to be legal as per <R7l>. i.e. You can’t just use random materials for a home made cable management solution.

It’s been three years since this question was answered, so I think that clarification is needed on whether this ruling is still up-to-date. I would ask the relevant Vex representative to consider a few points:

1. Allowing 3D Printed and Custom Manufactured wire management solutions would not affect gameplay. It seems this would fall under <R7>[d] in that it wouldn’t affect the performance of a robot versus a conventional solution (such as clips provided by Robosource.net or wire loom). If a team didn’t have a 3D printer or way to manufacture these parts, it would have no performance impact and the same thing could be accomplished with conventional options.
2. This would open up a small source of new innovation for VRC teams. Designs for wire clips and other solutions could be passed around and developed by the community. Teams would have more of an application for learning 3D design and manufacturing, which is a key industry and seems like it should be encouraged by Vex. Examples of this in VexU can be seen in the Starstruck engineering notebook of BLRZ, who’s team designed custom snapping motor controller holders, seen below.

I see no true drawbacks to allowing custom wire management parts. This would allow teams to be more efficient with simpler designs, encourage innovation, and wouldn’t affect robot performance.

[VEX_GDC]

Unfortunately, allowing these parts would violate the “commercially available” clause of Rule <R7>.

That being said, we’d like to commend you on your ingenious solution to this problem! While this rule will not be changed for the VRC In The Zone season, the GDC will review this rule and consider for future seasons.