I’m a classroom teacher and we are in need of more of a specific part that I can’t find on the VEX shop. I could use more of the 2x2x14x20 angle beams that are used in the V5 Speedbot, as well as many other builds.
I know it’s possible to just cut regular angle beams to accomplish the same thing, but I don’t have a bunch that are 2x2x20 and I would prefer to reduce the waste that would result from cutting longer pieces.
So, does anyone know of a place where you can buy that specific piece (or just 2x2x20x20 angle beams, since I don’t see those on the VEX shop either).
Another possibility could be 3D printing, although I’ve never used the one we have. Can 3D printers make parts that are normally metal?
what do you mean 2x2x14x20. that would be how you describe the dimensions a 4th dimensional object which I don’t think you can buy anywhere. If you need 2x2x14 your only choice is to cut down longer ones. if you are actually trying to buy 2x2x14x20 angle beams I would recommend visiting the fourth dimension as they might have ones you can cut down to size.
I don’t like those pieces you are referring to for the speedbot build. I would recommend using A20, regular angled pieces, rotating them, and bolting them down as the crossbars for the 2 different sides of the drive. In fact, 2 A20’s facing each other makes a great little place to put the brain and makes a good place to attach the battery as well.
The reason I don’t like those pieces referred to in the OP is they are not great at providing structural support, which is their purpose in the build. They bend too easy.
Now about the 3D printing. A 3D printer would definitely be able to print parts that are normally metal, however those parts would also most likely be quite a lot weaker than conventional metal parts, especialy so if the part is printed using a FDM/FFF printer which is essentialy any 3D printer that uses fillament rolls. Now, there are 3D printers that make metal parts but the cheapest commercialy avaiable one I could find costs $49,000 USD which I doubt your schools program has the budget for. HOWEVER, thats not to say that using 3D printers like FDM/FFF printers or any other conventional 3D printers cant be used to help in making you own custom parts. Now the idea im going to throw out here is a pretty outlandish idea and I wouldnt be supprised if you cant do it. But if you do have the stuff to do it you can use a 3D printed part to make a mold you can use to cast metal part AND that would give you the benifit of being able to use almost any metal you can get above its melting point, if you want to make a mold for anything other than a completely flat piece I would reccomend melting the 3D print while its inside the mold to get it our (VERY IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE, MELTING THE PRINT WILL LIKELY PRODUCE TOXIC GASSES SO MAKE SURE NOT TO INHALE THE FUMES AND YOU SHOULD ALSO PROBABLY WEAR SOME FORM OF RESPIRATOR OR GAS MASK IF YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS). But I would recomend looking into the rulebook as based on what I read (also known as the entire section relating to how the robot is built) I dont believe there is a rule specificaly against this but I also didnt see any rules saying it was allowed so I reccomend you look into the rulebook & try this at your own risk.
both printing and what @imconfused said is illegal per R7 and R16, however the OP said they are using it for classroom so if you aren’t in the competition it could be used, i would use the claw bot structure kit though.
It’s only illegal under R16 if you melt down VEX metal parts as it only says that melting VEX metal parts is illegal not melting down other metal into the shape of VEX metal parts, however it is probably still illegal under R7.
