Our team has issues with securing the wire connections all the time, including to the controller and with the 3-wire extensions. It would be so easy to fix if we can use electric tape on the wiring only. Does any team have the same issue and how did you guys fix that?
I would recommend looking at the Game Manual and see if it answers your questionā¦ (which it specifically does!).
After reading the Game Manual, let us know what specific rule questions you have.
8 Likes
These work really well.
2 Likes
Here is the Game Manual for reference.
3 Likes
If you are organizing or protecting wiringā¦ pretty much anything is allowed: elec tape, cable conduit, etc.
Must be commercially available though*
So 3D printing wire clamps is illegal to use for wire management in VRC
1 Like
IQ has some nice wire āclampsā.
As far as electrical tape goesā¦ not much need when there are zip ties.
We had to use elec tape to protect motors from being unplugged by other teams at the queueing table. Were the victims of sabotage on more than one instance.
3 Likes
Actually that would be up for debate. If the file you use to print the thing for wire management is available to download online on a site like thingiverse or some similar website, then it would be considered commercially available. Now if you make your own design and file and you donāt put the file out there for people to download it would not be commercially available and hence not legal.
Also Iām guessing inspectors would be pretty lenient about this as what function does keeping cables out of the way really serve (aka itās nonfunctional in terms of the functionality of the robot. It is functional/it serves a purpose but that function isnāt critical to the performance of the robot so it would probably be considered a nonfunctional decoration).
The idea of 3D printing parts by third party was debated last season and I think raised to Q&A which the answer was ānoā.
as for functionality, if I ask you to remove all the 3D parts would you be worried about impact to your cables? Then it provides a clear function, therefore not solely decoration.
The only functional/decoration I know is 3D printed license plates/holders. Even then, if the print does not meet the color of Text (White) and color of Alliance (Blue/Red), then it is not acceptable.
But sure keep the 3D printing debate going.
3 Likes
A note on electrical tape. Save yourself headache and buy the 3M brand. Itās flat out better tape. The adhesive doesnāt get gummy. Yeah itās twice as much as cheap tapeā¦ but honestly how many rolls will you use? Not even 1 whole roll in a year.
Iām not saying itās allowed but Iām also not saying itās specifically not allowed. What Iām saying is that there is going to be some interpretation on functionality with different inspectors and refs, and the rules in what would be considered commercially available are up for debate. If there is a Q&A addressing this exact issue then I would love to read it to get a guaranteed answer.
Edit: just using zip ties would be a better option and much less of a headache Iām just saying there isnāt a clear interpretation of this rule (that I know of).
Though I believe your reasoning is flawed, it is best to post on Q&A your question.
1 Like
Letās not continue this discussion as it is clogging up the thread. There has been debate over 3d printed things such as wire keepers for a long time so Iām not going to keep talking about it as I know what the answer probably is, Iām just saying I wish there was a more direct answer and that so much interpretation wasnāt needed.
Yea, this has came up for about 3 seasons in my lifetime, so I doubt it will be changed this season unless the motive of the GDC changes
2 Likes
This topic was automatically closed 365 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.