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BigBootyBason wrote: ↑October 19th, 2019, 7:10 pm

MadCow2357 wrote: ↑October 19th, 2019, 6:43 pm

123445 wrote: ↑October 19th, 2019, 3:39 pm Any tips for the base. Since with 8cm width requirement the base that I used to use won't be viable anymore since I was using just a small piece of bass then laminating it. ( Used narrow booms last year )

Generally the base doesn't touch the wall so I don't think you'll have a problem? Maybe I'm reading the rules wrong but that's my interpretation anyway.

I think he's saying his boom last year were a lot narrower compared to this year. And since this year's booms are gonna be wider he isn't sure how to account that for the base bc his base was also narrow.

There is the option to have a narrow base with the end on the wall flaring out in a similar manner to the base of towers in 2018.

MadCow2357 wrote: ↑October 19th, 2019, 6:43 pm


There is the option to have a narrow base with the end on the wall flaring out in a similar manner to the base of towers in 2018.

I just don't like the idea of have two parts on my boom. I feel like it would make it a lot weaker, but it is worth a try.

I suspect that a lot of us smaller, lesser known teams will have a harder time (like me) because now they are restricted to width and not just height like they're used to. And I know that you bigger teams cope better with change but personally I will be happy to see this event go even though I like it but it has given me much stress.

MmmBddRS1234 wrote: ↑October 26th, 2019, 7:24 am I suspect that a lot of us smaller, lesser known teams will have a harder time (like me) because now they are restricted to width and not just height like they're used to. And I know that you bigger teams cope better with change but personally I will be happy to see this event go even though I like it but it has given me much stress.

There is certainly a steep learning curve to boomilever, and all balsa events in general. I came from a small team, and it did require significant time and resources to even get on the playing field with traditionally stronger teams. However, mostly anyone can learn to become good at this event if they put in the effort.

Noob question here: if I'm using 1/16 thick x-bracings, is it a good idea to put them one side or one part of the x on top and one part of the x on bottom? I'm afraid that if I put them on one side, the bracings will have to bend where they intersect but I feel like it will be stronger.

LoneMonkey wrote: ↑October 27th, 2019, 5:11 pm Noob question here: if I'm using 1/16 thick x-bracings, is it a good idea to put them one side or one part of the x on top and one part of the x on bottom? I'm afraid that if I put them on one side, the bracings will have to bend where they intersect but I feel like it will be stronger.

Depends on the width your bracing is spanning.

I usually use 1/16" by 1/32" balsa for bracing, and I make x-es no problem on most widths. When I'm only spanning ~2 cm, however, I usually just switch to zigzag bracing so I don't encounter the problem you mentioned above.

MadCow2357 wrote: ↑October 27th, 2019, 5:51 pm

LoneMonkey wrote: ↑October 27th, 2019, 5:11 pm Noob question here: if I'm using 1/16 thick x-bracings, is it a good idea to put them one side or one part of the x on top and one part of the x on bottom? I'm afraid that if I put them on one side, the bracings will have to bend where they intersect but I feel like it will be stronger.

Depends on the width your bracing is spanning.

I usually use 1/16" by 1/32" balsa for bracing, and I make x-es no problem on most widths. When I'm only spanning ~2 cm, however, I usually just switch to zigzag bracing so I don't encounter the problem you mentioned above.

At shortest, it will be around 5 cm wide. If it bends a little, how much will that affect the amount of weight the boomi is able to hold?

LoneMonkey wrote: ↑October 27th, 2019, 5:11 pm Noob question here: if I'm using 1/16 thick x-bracings, is it a good idea to put them one side or one part of the x on top and one part of the x on bottom? I'm afraid that if I put them on one side, the bracings will have to bend where they intersect but I feel like it will be stronger.

If you are doing coplanar Xs you will want to use dense square 1/16th in a weave with one zigzag on top and then on the bottom on the next X. And be sure to place a drop of glue on the intersection, otherwise they serve very little purpose.

LoneMonkey wrote: ↑October 27th, 2019, 6:05 pm

MadCow2357 wrote: ↑October 27th, 2019, 5:51 pm

LoneMonkey wrote: ↑October 27th, 2019, 5:11 pm Noob question here: if I'm using 1/16 thick x-bracings, is it a good idea to put them one side or one part of the x on top and one part of the x on bottom? I'm afraid that if I put them on one side, the bracings will have to bend where they intersect but I feel like it will be stronger.

Depends on the width your bracing is spanning.

I usually use 1/16" by 1/32" balsa for bracing, and I make x-es no problem on most widths. When I'm only spanning ~2 cm, however, I usually just switch to zigzag bracing so I don't encounter the problem you mentioned above.

At shortest, it will be around 5 cm wide. If it bends a little, how much will that affect the amount of weight the boomi is able to hold?

5 cm wide might be a bit skinny. You'd be fine using 1/32" by 1/16" though, if you have access to that. For 5 cm with 1/16" square, I'd use zigzag bracings. Bending too much does indeed affect the strength of your boom.

By utilizing "Z" type bracing, the member is forced to accept both tensile and compressive forces. Obviously, it would need to be much thicker thus heavier to deal with this. By utilizing X style bracing, they only need to handle the tensile forces. When one side of the X starts picking up compressive forces the other side tightens up and deals with that same force as a tensile force, and vice versa, so both members can be much smaller. 1/16" x 1/32" works perfect for this.