Boomilevers 2019 (B/C)

[MadCow2357]

Discussion for Boomilevers 2018-2019 until bernard posts the official forum next (I guess?).

https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Boomilever

It seems that elite teams use combinations of bass and balsa when building their Boomilevers, according to the wiki and Aia's Boomilever Guide. Is that really the way to go, or is all balsa still better?

[Unome]

It's probably closer than in other builds. Some teams used bass for the lower tension member in bridges in 2015 and 2016, so I expect a similar situation here, with some teams using bass and others using balsa.

[MadCow2357]

I used a balsa tension strap this year for towers, 0.4g per 12", and it was completely fine until my Nationals Tower . And that breakage was actually from "blow out" as dholdgreve referred to it as, because the balsa did not break in the usual way.

So I assume the my boom should be fine with all balsa, except for the base/mounting section?

[MadCow2357]

And by the way, I used an elevated bridge tower design this year if you were curious.

[FermiGod]

And by the way, I used an elevated bridge tower design this year if you were curious.

I think it would be best to wait till September to start building. It would be a waste to start a boomilever then realize that it doesn’t have the right specs.

[Unome]

And by the way, I used an elevated bridge tower design this year if you were curious.

I think it would be best to wait till September to start building. It would be a waste to start a boomilever then realize that it doesn’t have the right specs.

I would definitely recommend building over the summer to get some experience with how boomilevers work, especially since the devices for structural events are single-use.

[MadCow2357]

I was thinking the same thing as you, Unome. I will probably build according to the 2012-2013 Boomilever B rules, since I can access those online (I believe). The real question is, how will I construct a testing base that will be good for next year's rules? I know Boomilever testing apparatuses are definitely not the same as Tower testing apparatuses

As an unrelated side note, I would also like to know how much you guys spend each season (building events). My team does not receive too much funding from the school (for individual events), and my partner and I have paid at least $700 this season out of pocket. Such an expensive hobby . Hopefully our principal will reimburse part of our spendings this year with our leftover National's money.

[waffletree]

I was thinking the same thing as you, Unome. I will probably build according to the 2012-2013 Boomilever B rules, since I can access those online (I believe). The real question is, how will I construct a testing base that will be good for next year's rules? I know Boomilever testing apparatuses are definitely not the same as Tower testing apparatuses

As an unrelated side note, I would also like to know how much you guys spend each season (building events). My team does not receive too much funding from the school (for individual events), and my partner and I have paid at least $700 this season out of pocket. Such an expensive hobby . Hopefully our principal will reimburse part of our spendings this year with our leftover National's money.

Woah that’s a lot! Is it just for towers? or everything in general?
I think we spent around $100-120 for towers and Wright stuff, or at least that's what it adds up to. For rollercoaster, we used random items left over from our tech ed classes, like the wood, and used card board boxes and cut them up.
The guy who did battery buggy spent a good amount of money, I think, on his buggy. And for thermo, I'm pretty sure they used leftover materials from Keep the Heat last year.
We usually keep a lot of materials and stuff stored away so we can reuse if we need it so we don't have to spend a lot on new materials every year.

[TheChiScientist]

Being a packrat can be a good thing at times. (I should know )
I know that somewhere on the forums there is a link for a free Boomilever simulation...
Does anyone have it or can the recommend a free alternative as I don't have access to school resources currently?

[Cow481]

Do you know which year it is from? I could try to find it