Q12.3: It says that “There are no restrictions on how each member is cut as long as it is able to fit in the box in its final state before any glue is applied.” It also says that each Wall member must span one inch. Triangular walls can fit both of these requirements. They can span more than one inch vertically (design guy does not mention that every part of it has to) and can fit within the box. A clarification says that triangular members are not allowed however. Can we cut 1” tall rectangle walls with a triangular shape on top (all parts will span 1” vertically but will still have triangular shape on top?)
A: Any shape that has a minimum vertical height of 1” at all horizontal points and has a minimum horizontal dimension of 1” will satisfy the requirement. The example shape described in the question will satisfy the requirement provided it has a minimum horizontal dimension of 1”.
Q12.4: We would like to know if there are any limitations regarding the depth of the notchings at the base plate.
A: No limitations as long as the surface remains flat and smooth. Typically, teams notch the entire thickness to get a bigger surface area.
Q12.5: We would like to know if we need to manufacture and make our own deadloads following the characteristics given , or they will be provided at the competition?
A: Dead loads are provided at the competition.
Q8.4: What are the specifications of the accelerometers to be used? What is their range? What is the sampling rate that will be used at the competition?
A: The teams don’t have to bring their accelerometer. The SDC organizing committee will provide the accelerometer and perform the post-processing based on standard practice.
Q7.10: The plywood we have acquired for our baseplates comes with a varnish coating. According to Rule 7.11, “the finish on all frame and wall members must be bare wood. Paint or coatings will not be allowed on any portion of the model. Burned surfaces from laser cutting are permitted.” We are wondering if the varnish coating on our plywood baseplate is acceptable, as it is not a frame/wall member and does not affect the performance of our structural model
A: Paint or coating is not allowed on any portion of the model no matter if it is baseplate or not!