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Read the rules. ITs the time that your device should operate closest to. It's 60 seconds at regionals. Read the rules under Competition.

illusionist wrote:Have judges been very particular that you have to use sand? Or have you been allowed to use sugar or salt?

It would be an enormous risk for little or no benefit, IMO.

Primate wrote:

kcanvan wrote:I have an issue with some of the sand bouncing uncontrollably.. if even a few grains of sand leave the 50x50x80 box, will the 50 point deduction still be given?

Most likely. Put up a plexiglass wall on the leaky side(s) of your device.

Or if you are pressed for time, manila folder will do.

It wasn't for a benefit, but rather for the lack of materials. Here in Michigan where I live, there is very little sand. I'll go see if I can find some in a craft store

illusionist wrote:It wasn't for a benefit, but rather for the lack of materials. Here in Michigan where I live, there is very little sand. I'll go see if I can find some in a craft store

Michaels sells some sand art sand (I believe it's officially dubbed "craft sand") that works wonderfully.

illusionist wrote:It wasn't for a benefit, but rather for the lack of materials. Here in Michigan where I live, there is very little sand. I'll go see if I can find some in a craft store

Have you tried Home Depot or Lowes or a local hardware store? Sand isn't used just for playgrounds, it's also commonly required for bricklaying, tiles and paver stones. I'd be shocked if you can't find a bag of it in one of these stores. My local store (in Ohio, just south of you;) has 40 lb bags for $2.50.

For those of you who are using the sand timer as the penultimate task, how are you transitioning from it to raising the balloon w/ the sign?

unquantumphysics wrote:For those of you who are using the sand timer as the penultimate task, how are you transitioning from it to raising the balloon w/ the sign?

I'm not doing this, but my suggestion would be to have the sand pour into a container on one end of a type one lever, with the other end holding the balloon down. Once the weight of the sand tilts the lever, the weight will be lifted off of the balloon, letting the balloon rise.

Good idea--unfortunately, though, the sand timer needs to run for at least 15 seconds. The balloon would rise as soon as the lever is lifted

kcanvan wrote:

unquantumphysics wrote:For those of you who are using the sand timer as the penultimate task, how are you transitioning from it to raising the balloon w/ the sign?

I'm not doing this, but my suggestion would be to have the sand pour into a container on one end of a type one lever, with the other end holding the balloon down. Once the weight of the sand tilts the lever, the weight will be lifted off of the balloon, letting the balloon rise.

We initially tried something like this, but it's more finicky than it is in theory. Any jolts to your machine tended to let the balloon free prematurely, at least in our setup. The solution for us was to use a mousetrap. Stick the triggery part under the lever, and wedge the balloon tether between the two pieces of metal. When the level tips, the mousetrap springs and the balloon goes free. Much more accurate.

unquantumphysics wrote:Good idea--unfortunately, though, the sand timer needs to run for at least 15 seconds. The balloon would rise as soon as the lever is lifted

Right, the balloon would rise as soon as the lever is lifted, however, there's obviously going to be a counter-weight on the other side of the lever. The sand timer will run it's course, and the weight of the sand will lift the counter-weight. It would just be a matter of figuring out how much sand will lift some mass counter-weight.