Special partially threaded screw joints and HS gear bearings using modified 393 output gears

[technik3k]

@AperatureLabs

So I may need to clarify what qualifies as a additional functionality. the GDC has confirmed that any commercially available bolt can be used, including set screws and screws with captive washers, …

… but not threaded rods or eye bolts. However this is spread across the last 5 years worth of Q&A.

While I love this design, I am left to ask if the thread free part of your screws introduces functionality not found in standard vex hardware. If the functionality is limited to “gear spins on it” then is a better spin additional functionality, or just superior functionality. I think this should be dropped into an official Q&A, because I would love to know for sure with this added clarification.

I’ve seen people using partially threaded screws in VRC for years. And that would be perfectly consistent with the original wording of <R7c> which became <R11> this season:

<R11> Certain non-VEX screws, nuts, and washers are allowed. Robots may use any commercially available #4, #6, #8, M3, M3.5, or M4 screw up to 2” (50.8mm) long (nominal), and any commercially available nut, washer, and/or spacer (up to 2” / 50.8mm long) to fit these screws.

The most relevant official Q&A that makes such screws legal is this post from May 2013:

@stuffstuff

<R7>c.Any commercially available #4, #6, #8, M2, M2.5, M3 or M4 screw up to 2" long, and any commercially available nut to fit these screws.

does this include any commercially available shoulder screws?

@Karthik

Yes, shoulder screws fitting the above definition would be legal.

Also, this answer from Aug 2013:

@Karthik

Do shoulder screws still count as screws? Would it be legal to modify that shoulder screw to have a smaller diameter?

Yes, shoulder screws still count as screws, and, yes this modification is legal.

@AperatureLabs

I would recommend more clarification from the GDC. However, the rules allow for larger bolts, like , which could be machined down to the appropriate size, increasing the cost and exclusivity, which is counter to what I believe the GDC has in mind for this rule.

I would love to, but RECF & GDC made it especially hard for people to ask questions in the new Q&A format - I will not be able to do this until the fall in the earliest. They are likely to miss a bunch of useful questions that could help them make corrections and clarifications to the game manual early in the season.

Also, I just realized that you cannot search Q&A from multiple seasons with the new interface. Forum based Q&A format worked so much better in so many different ways.

https://www.robotevents.com/VRC/2018-2019/QA
https://www.robotevents.com/VRC/2019-2020/QA