I have complied a list of the ten of the most important things to remember when dealing with rubber bands as over the years i have come across many students struggling to setup and maintain "rubber-banded lifts"
Top 10 things to remember (In no particular order/0
Rubber Bands must either be #34 or #64 bands, but do not have to be purchased from VEX
As there is no limit to rubber-band usage in VEX it is a good idea to use more rubber bands which stretch less in order to increase the elastics "useful life"
To "Join" rubberbands place one rubber-band 1/2 way through another band, then bend one end back through the other end to ensure a safe connection which will not come undone.
In order to further increase the "useful life" of the elastic be sure to take the elastics off when the robot is not being used
Ensure that when using rubber bands on a lift that there is an even number of rubber bands used. If the lift does not sit even when rubberbands are equal there is something wrong with the lift DO NOT add more rubber bands to fix your problem
to create rubber band hooks, instead of using a standoff, I recommend using a 2-inch screw with a lock nut on halfway before it goes through the piece of metal and another on the other side of the metal, with a third lock nut situated at the end of the screw. This means that rubber bands can be placed on either side of the metal, reducing the chance of metal bend, and the use of nylock nuts ensures that it will not become loose unlike standoffs
If you want your lift to be supported in the upwards direction make sure that the bottom rubber band holder (1) is situated forward of the top rubber band support (2) as shown in the picture
Always remember to bring spare rubber bands to a competition
Make sure that there is no chance that the rubber bands could snap during a match; Ensure that all metal cuts are filed and rubber bands are in good condition before going to the field
Remember like all parts elastic bands cost money, and if you are caught "flinging" them across the workshop you could be asked to stay out of the workshop for the remainder of the session
Comments