Shoutout to VEX; as we disassemble the Rapid Relay field elements I’m only now realizing what an excellent source of parts it is! While the semi-transparent black pieces have some questionable structural integrity, we’re loving all the new capped connecters, 1x2 & 2x2 connectors, corner connectors, truss plates and bright yellow 2x beams!
Full Volume had a solid parts haul too (including the red 2x beams).
Unfortunately, this year’s game doesn’t look like it will add much to the part inventory other than the blue and red corner goals…unless they’ll let us use the new 251mm beams on future bots!
The parts in the field elements was always the best part. The games the last few seasons have been awesome.
Crossover was the breakthrough year. Prior to that there were zero, or in the case of Highrise 2014-15 with 6 L shapes (2 each of red, green, blue). Pitching in and Slapshot were huge winners for the parts harvest.
On the other hand, I now have a huge supply of parts to make trophies out of for the next few years.
The transparent pieces are weak. We threw out all 6 fields worth of the transparent pieces because we didn’t want to risk our student’s bots failing due to a weak part. If they were as strong as the standard pieces, it would have been great to have the extra pieces. Sad that this year doesn’t have a ton of reusable parts but I do like the blue and red colors as they’re different than the other blue/red pieces
“The transparent pieces are weak.” I noticed that VEX went to a different version of ABS plastic. Those field pieces were “softer”, i.e. more flexible than robot kit parts. We also broke a lot of 1x beams that made the ramp during tournaments.
We kept the transparent pieces but to @Cookies point, we put them all in a separate box from our standard beams so that team members don’t grab them by mistake.
However, I think there could be a time and place for beams with a bit of “give”. I also haven’t weighed them yet but it feels as though the transparent beams are lighter; which could be advantageous in certain situations, even as a tradeoff for sturdiness.
Actually, they are heavier. I made a post about it a while back. (I can’t find it) It’s less than a gram of difference for the 2x20, so it doesn’t really matter.
