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Last Task

Posted: January 31st, 2010, 2:56 pm
by cypressfalls Robert
This is a disscussion about the ending task, in which you have to raise a flag.

- mousetrap raises flag
- pulley system raises flag
- motor raises flag

One team at a resent competition used a motor with a gearbox and spent about 20 seconds raising their flag vertically out of their box.

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 7:23 pm
by batmankiller
A pulley system is pretty hard.. as the flagpole itself has to be 30 cm since.. the pulley itself is considered part of the original device.. so it has to be raising a 30 cm flagpole.. in order to be 30 CM above the whole device.

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 7:27 pm
by cypressfalls Robert
Its actually pretty easy. All you have to do is have an area where you can keep some type of string, like on a spool, and a motor pulls on it and when the string is wrapped around the shaft of the motor the final bits pull the flag up. I've seen this being used several times at competition, as a matter of fact even I used, but it only lasted for maybe .5 seconds to 1 second.

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 7:57 pm
by zcshiner
It says that the flag and flagpole does not have to fit inside the 50x50x80 dimensions. Is that only when it is raising or is it completely excluded from those stipulations?

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 8:00 pm
by cypressfalls Robert
We got 2nd tierd for having the flag and flagpole outside the dimensions before it was raised(when the eventer proctor was measuring the machine :evil: ) at an invitational,...so it has to be inside the mission until it raises. Then it can go outside.

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 4:30 pm
by binary010101
You can just have a lever-style flag. Have a pivot and a weight (magnet) on one end, and a 40cm pole w/ flag on the other. Unless you intend to go for as long as possible, in which case it's a different matter entirely.

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 7th, 2010, 9:39 am
by Uncle Fester
Keeping the flag mechanism as close to the top if the device top as possible (without going over), and going along opposite corners, and having as little flagpole on the other side of the pivot point (think strong lifter and lightest pole here) will give the greatest possible length without having to look at bending, compressing or folding schemes for the pole.

Here's a thought. . . Remember those little "pills" with the foam dinosaurs that expand when when you put them in water? :lol:

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 7th, 2010, 10:56 am
by Sir_L_Jenkins
Uncle Fester wrote: Here's a thought. . . Remember those little "pills" with the foam dinosaurs that expand when when you put them in water? :lol:
Tis a shame that you can't get "style" points, it would make things so much more fun and interesting...
At least you can easily have some fun with vague tasks such as "dragging a mass" and whatnot, hehe.

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 27th, 2010, 7:26 pm
by Xenarian
Yeah, I'm just putting 6v through a 1.5v motor. For some extra torque ^_^

I basically have the motor acting as the fulcrum of a really light 40cm length of basswood, with a minimal, tiny Benet flag on the end. It raises in around two seconds. Made it today.

Re: Last Task

Posted: February 27th, 2010, 7:30 pm
by Sir_L_Jenkins
Xenarian wrote:Yeah, I'm just putting 6v through a 1.5v motor. For some extra torque ^_^
Be careful you don't fry your motor, I've certainly toasted quite a few of those small motors by intentionally, or accidentally over-volting em