Bridge Building 2016

[JonB]

Yes supervisors are great people and I thank them over and over again for taking the time to make this happens. So I am not at all suggesting that they are bad people here, I am merely suggesting that if they coach a team also, they have access to the actual apparatus and loading blocks while we don't. If the rule is designed so that those things are factors, then that could be a little bit unfair.

The problem is that it would be impossible to regulate what the block material is. Even if you say that it must be "wood" there are many different types of wood. Ultimately, as a coach, I would say worry about the things you CAN control and let everything else fall into place. Take Electric Vehicle as an example. If your gym floor is more like the floor of the competition, then that's awesome. But, we/you cannot control this so be ready for anything.

That is the first thing that pops up to me. What should I use for loading block? What material and weight? Because there is a lateral force here, and it is not secured. How do I make that stable enough to hold the maximum weight? Hmm, it could be a pretty big factor here, or maybe not....

It has to be 5cm x 5cm x 2cm. Make it out of anything that doesn't bend (we 3D printed it with a high infill but you can just as easily cut it out of wood). The weight will be negligible in testing and should be part of the weight held. You do not necessarily have to have lateral force but that will depend on your design. Even with a bridge design from last year, the lateral force was not all that much. Gravity will act to "secure" the loading block to your bridge.

[hogger]

I am not a mechanical engineer here but I believe you cannot avoid having horizontal component of the force due the angle of the two anchor points relative to the ground. Anyway, I will probably make mine out of wood, make it kind of slippery (prepared for worse case) and go from there. Thanks.

[JonB]

I am not a mechanical engineer here but I believe you cannot avoid having horizontal component of the force due the angle of the two anchor points relative to the ground. Anyway, I will probably make mine out of wood, make it kind of slippery (prepared for worse case) and go from there. Thanks.

There will be some lateral force on the bridge but if your loading block is not tilted then all of the energy from the loading block to the bridge will be downwards, not to the side.

[dholdgreve]

The angle of the bridge from one bearing point to the other is 8 degrees (for Div B, Div C is even less). Unless you put wheels on it, it will not roll or slide off the loading block. Just make sure that you are bearing at least to the center of the top narrow edge of the block, and not "leaning" into it.

[brayden box]

For someone who builds a bridge that is little leaning, it'll just fall over. It is still 1500 weight limit, right?

[HarrisDaud]

I was wondering how will the bridge be stable while its at an angle. Won't loading block favor one side and then it will all collapse.

[NamG]

How long has the bridge event been limited to 6 minutes for setup and testing? I haven't seen the rules for several years until now.

[InfiniCuber]

How long has the bridge event been limited to 6 minutes for setup and testing? I haven't seen the rules for several years until now.

I believe that is a new change from last year, I think it used to be 8 minutes before. Shorter time, more pressure! (for some)

[JonB]

How long has the bridge event been limited to 6 minutes for setup and testing? I haven't seen the rules for several years until now.

I believe that is a new change from last year, I think it used to be 8 minutes before. Shorter time, more pressure! (for some)

Correct. This time limit should not be a problem with competitions with autoloaders but makes it nearly impossible for competitions where only a small scoop is provided.

[brayden box]

When I did bridge, they only had an automatic loader at States. That will make it really hard at regionals.