Supporting the testing apparatus

[Unome]

Rule 6b states that the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly.. Rule 5b defines the loading block assembly as the loading block, the eye bolt, the s hook and the chain. The bucket is addressed under 5c, so it is not a part of the loading block assembly... Having run this competition in the past, I'd have to say that as long as the tower carried at least the loading block assembly, without the bucket, it has a load that can be calculated and is in tier 1, even if it breaks when the bucket is hung. If no part of the tower touched inside the bonus circle, it would also qualify for the bonus. Obviously, the mass of the bucket would not count since it was not supported. In theory, you may have a 2.5 gram tower that carried the loading block assembly that weighed 250 grams but not the bucket and qualified for the bonus. The score would be 5,250 / 2.5 = 2100 points. A competitive score in an all or nothing sort of way.

Actually, I believe in the qualifications section (cant remember the number off the top of my head) it states that the tower only needs to hold the block. Saying the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly simply means that if u cant hold ANYTHING, u still get the weight of the loading block assembly counted in your score. I'm pretty sure this is what it means. I tried this "light tower" Approach, it doesnt work. The weight of the loading block is typically about .5kg. and the weight of the chain should be another .2 or so kg. The bucket is plastic as a pose to metal.

A loading block with a mass of 500 g is heavier than steel - I think you may mean 50 g. I don't know about the rest of the assembly, but 250-400 g sounds reasonable to me. I think it would be doable to make a tower that can hold that at a mass below 3 grams. Balsa Man - any thoughts?

[dholdgreve]

Rule 6b states that the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly.. Rule 5b defines the loading block assembly as the loading block, the eye bolt, the s hook and the chain. The bucket is addressed under 5c, so it is not a part of the loading block assembly... Having run this competition in the past, I'd have to say that as long as the tower carried at least the loading block assembly, without the bucket, it has a load that can be calculated and is in tier 1, even if it breaks when the bucket is hung. If no part of the tower touched inside the bonus circle, it would also qualify for the bonus. Obviously, the mass of the bucket would not count since it was not supported. In theory, you may have a 2.5 gram tower that carried the loading block assembly that weighed 250 grams but not the bucket and qualified for the bonus. The score would be 5,250 / 2.5 = 2100 points. A competitive score in an all or nothing sort of way.

Actually, I believe in the qualifications section (cant remember the number off the top of my head) it states that the tower only needs to hold the block. Saying the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly simply means that if u cant hold ANYTHING, u still get the weight of the loading block assembly counted in your score. I'm pretty sure this is what it means. I tried this "light tower" Approach, it doesnt work. The weight of the loading block is typically about .5kg. and the weight of the chain should be another .2 or so kg. The bucket is plastic as a pose to metal.

Nope, I quoted directly from Rule 6. SCORING: b". ...The lowest Load Scored is the mass of the Loading Block Assembly." 5.b clearly defines exactly what is included in what they are defining as the "The Loading Block Assembly." I usually run a number of these competitions every year. This is black and white. If your tower cannot carry the entire load block assembly as defined by 5b., then it cannot be tested... Tier 4.

[Random Human]

Rule 6b states that the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly.. Rule 5b defines the loading block assembly as the loading block, the eye bolt, the s hook and the chain. The bucket is addressed under 5c, so it is not a part of the loading block assembly... Having run this competition in the past, I'd have to say that as long as the tower carried at least the loading block assembly, without the bucket, it has a load that can be calculated and is in tier 1, even if it breaks when the bucket is hung. If no part of the tower touched inside the bonus circle, it would also qualify for the bonus. Obviously, the mass of the bucket would not count since it was not supported. In theory, you may have a 2.5 gram tower that carried the loading block assembly that weighed 250 grams but not the bucket and qualified for the bonus. The score would be 5,250 / 2.5 = 2100 points. A competitive score in an all or nothing sort of way.

Actually, I believe in the qualifications section (cant remember the number off the top of my head) it states that the tower only needs to hold the block. Saying the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly simply means that if u cant hold ANYTHING, u still get the weight of the loading block assembly counted in your score. I'm pretty sure this is what it means. I tried this "light tower" Approach, it doesnt work. The weight of the loading block is typically about .5kg. and the weight of the chain should be another .2 or so kg. The bucket is plastic as a pose to metal.

Nope, I quoted directly from Rule 6. SCORING: b". ...The lowest Load Scored is the mass of the Loading Block Assembly." 5.b clearly defines exactly what is included in what they are defining as the "The Loading Block Assembly." I usually run a number of these competitions every year. This is black and white. If your tower cannot carry the entire load block assembly as defined by 5b., then it cannot be tested... Tier 4.

Hm.... I think otherwise, (respectfully). "the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly. Doesn't mean you are REQUIRED TO HOLD IT, just means the lowest dividend is the mass of the loading block assembly. I think. May be wrong, but from the wording, I don't think it implies that you must hold it.

[Unome]

Actually, I believe in the qualifications section (cant remember the number off the top of my head) it states that the tower only needs to hold the block. Saying the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly simply means that if u cant hold ANYTHING, u still get the weight of the loading block assembly counted in your score. I'm pretty sure this is what it means. I tried this "light tower" Approach, it doesnt work. The weight of the loading block is typically about .5kg. and the weight of the chain should be another .2 or so kg. The bucket is plastic as a pose to metal.

Nope, I quoted directly from Rule 6. SCORING: b". ...The lowest Load Scored is the mass of the Loading Block Assembly." 5.b clearly defines exactly what is included in what they are defining as the "The Loading Block Assembly." I usually run a number of these competitions every year. This is black and white. If your tower cannot carry the entire load block assembly as defined by 5b., then it cannot be tested... Tier 4.

Hm.... I think otherwise, (respectfully). "the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly. Doesn't mean you are REQUIRED TO HOLD IT, just means the lowest dividend is the mass of the loading block assembly. I think. May be wrong, but from the wording, I don't think it implies that you must hold it.

I am in agreement on this point, in that I could see a valid reason to give a team a score of zero and 1st tier if they collapse under the loading assembly - though it's definitely disputable, since the rules say "unable to be loaded for any reason."

[Adityasht]

So, I have seen many great responses and disputes regarding the question, so can a mod or admin confirm the final answer to the question?

Thanks,

Adityasht

[Random Human]

Nope, I quoted directly from Rule 6. SCORING: b". ...The lowest Load Scored is the mass of the Loading Block Assembly." 5.b clearly defines exactly what is included in what they are defining as the "The Loading Block Assembly." I usually run a number of these competitions every year. This is black and white. If your tower cannot carry the entire load block assembly as defined by 5b., then it cannot be tested... Tier 4.

Hm.... I think otherwise, (respectfully). "the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly. Doesn't mean you are REQUIRED TO HOLD IT, just means the lowest dividend is the mass of the loading block assembly. I think. May be wrong, but from the wording, I don't think it implies that you must hold it.

I am in agreement on this point, in that I could see a valid reason to give a team a score of zero and 1st tier if they collapse under the loading assembly - though it's definitely disputable, since the rules say "unable to be loaded for any reason."

Hm... I believe somewhere in the rules it requires the loading block ONLY to be holded

[dholdgreve]

So, I have seen many great responses and disputes regarding the question, so can a mod or admin confirm the final answer to the question?

Thanks,

Adityasht

Anything stated on this board is totally unofficial... just opinions. For official clarification, you or your coach would need to submit an FAQ on the www.soinc.org website.

[dholdgreve]

Actually, I believe in the qualifications section (cant remember the number off the top of my head) it states that the tower only needs to hold the block. Saying the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly simply means that if u cant hold ANYTHING, u still get the weight of the loading block assembly counted in your score. I'm pretty sure this is what it means. I tried this "light tower" Approach, it doesnt work. The weight of the loading block is typically about .5kg. and the weight of the chain should be another .2 or so kg. The bucket is plastic as a pose to metal.

Nope, I quoted directly from Rule 6. SCORING: b". ...The lowest Load Scored is the mass of the Loading Block Assembly." 5.b clearly defines exactly what is included in what they are defining as the "The Loading Block Assembly." I usually run a number of these competitions every year. This is black and white. If your tower cannot carry the entire load block assembly as defined by 5b., then it cannot be tested... Tier 4.

Hm.... I think otherwise, (respectfully). "the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly. Doesn't mean you are REQUIRED TO HOLD IT, just means the lowest dividend is the mass of the loading block assembly. I think. May be wrong, but from the wording, I don't think it implies that you must hold it.

Interesting... How can I score it as a load, if it is not carried.? Conversely, It MUST carry the load to be scored. Since the loading block assembly is the lowest mass allowed, anything less than that is not to be considered a load. If it can't carry a minimum "load", it can't be tested. .

[Unome]

Nope, I quoted directly from Rule 6. SCORING: b". ...The lowest Load Scored is the mass of the Loading Block Assembly." 5.b clearly defines exactly what is included in what they are defining as the "The Loading Block Assembly." I usually run a number of these competitions every year. This is black and white. If your tower cannot carry the entire load block assembly as defined by 5b., then it cannot be tested... Tier 4.

Hm.... I think otherwise, (respectfully). "the lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly. Doesn't mean you are REQUIRED TO HOLD IT, just means the lowest dividend is the mass of the loading block assembly. I think. May be wrong, but from the wording, I don't think it implies that you must hold it.

Interesting... How can I score it as a load, if it is not carried.? Conversely, It MUST carry the load to be scored. Since the loading block assembly is the lowest mass allowed, anything less than that is not to be considered a load. If it can't carry a minimum "load", it can't be tested. .

What would qualify as "carried"? If it holds for some time but collapses before any sand is loaded? If a tower is loaded to max, and then collapses a few seconds afterward, has it carried that load?

So, I have seen many great responses and disputes regarding the question, so can a mod or admin confirm the final answer to the question?

Thanks,

Adityasht

As dholdgreve said, we would need a FAQ posted to the website for anything to be official. However, this really only matters if your tower is at that point.

[CrypticBuilder23]

I did ask this question last year and I agree with the general consensus so far. The "lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly."

Also there is 3c: "The Tower must support the Loading Block (5.b.i.)"

Last year it was more explicit: (6a - 2016-17) Towers that cannot support the loading block will be scored in tier 4

Given the fact that is wasn't stated explicitly, there may be a case that you don't need to support the loading block assembly. I feel like its too much of a risk to take though. The event supervisors will probably have enough evidence to disqualify your tower.