Efficiencies

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lllazar
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by lllazar »

Im pretty sure he/she means the base of the tower.
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Fossils (Regionals ~1st) (State ~6th)
Towers (Regionals ~1st) (State ~3rd)
Helicopter (Regionals -3rd gahhh) (State ~5th)
Wind Power (Regionals ~1st) (State ~3rd TIERED!)

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Re: Efficiencies

Post by sciolyswizzle16 »

i meant the efficiency of the tower as a whole
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by Littleboy »

sciolyswizzle16 wrote:What are some of the best efficiencies you guys are getting?
And if our base keeps breaking, what would be a good way to fix it?
They were talking about your second question.
As to your first, 40 should be very competitive.
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by iYOA »

sciolyswizzle16 wrote: And if our base keeps breaking, what would be a good way to fix it?
we have the exact same problem. in general we are trying to make our top lighter because if the base breaks first, it means we have unneeded weight at the top(so ideally, a tower should have the base and the top simultaneously break?)

to make the base stronger, you might want to add one more truss on each face of the base, or make the main sticks on the base less slanted. You can do this by making the 4 main sticks on the top slightly slanted, and changing up your dimensions. That way, the top will have slanted sticks and the base will have slanted stick but the sticks on the base will be less slanted.
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by SO4L »

I just tested my first 2 towers of the season at an invitational and they both held 15kg. The efficiencies were 14.5 million and 15.2 million. I think i have my design down, now I just need to experiment with different types and dimensions of wood.
2010 State_Nationals
Ornithology - 2nd, 11th
Picture This - 7th, 16h
Ecology - 6th, 15th
Mission Possible - 1st, 12th

2011 State_Nationals
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Towers - 2nd, 16th
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by lllazar »

SO4L wrote:I just tested my first 2 towers of the season at an invitational and they both held 15kg. The efficiencies were 14.5 million and 15.2 million. I think i have my design down, now I just need to experiment with different types and dimensions of wood.
Competition for state :) But just out of curiosity, what dimensions of wood did you use for the base legs? I use 1/8 squared.
2011 Season Events~

Fossils (Regionals ~1st) (State ~6th)
Towers (Regionals ~1st) (State ~3rd)
Helicopter (Regionals -3rd gahhh) (State ~5th)
Wind Power (Regionals ~1st) (State ~3rd TIERED!)

Hooray for getting everything i wanted?
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by SO4L »

But just out of curiosity, what dimensions of wood did you use for the base legs? I use 1/8 squared.
I use 1/8 as well
2010 State_Nationals
Ornithology - 2nd, 11th
Picture This - 7th, 16h
Ecology - 6th, 15th
Mission Possible - 1st, 12th

2011 State_Nationals
Ornithology - 6th, 9th
Towers - 2nd, 16th
Protein Modeling - 1st, 6th
Mission Possible - 1st, 9th
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by Arthur »

what efficiency do you think would be needed to medal at states in pa?
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by eta150 »

Arthur wrote:what efficiency do you think would be needed to medal at states in pa?
Both divisions should have medaling begin at ~20 g/kg^2. The rules are tougher for C, but there are also usually better builders.
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Re: Efficiencies

Post by lllazar »

Yes that sounds about right. With practice and good jig designs (and that is crucial) as well as good wood, whether it be balsa or bass, state medals should start around there. By that u mean top 4 i suppose?
2011 Season Events~

Fossils (Regionals ~1st) (State ~6th)
Towers (Regionals ~1st) (State ~3rd)
Helicopter (Regionals -3rd gahhh) (State ~5th)
Wind Power (Regionals ~1st) (State ~3rd TIERED!)

Hooray for getting everything i wanted?
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