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In 5.d, It says "Teams will place a 16-oz. plastic cup provided by the supervisor upside down to cover the Start Point (SP). The
SP can be anywhere under the cup as long as it is completely covered. In the ready-to-run configuration, the
vehicle’s dowel must touch the cup. The cup must remain in contact with the track at all times."

What I am confused with is the " In the ready-to-run configuration, the
vehicle’s dowel must touch the cup."

Maybe I am interpreting this wrong, but I do not get why this is needed and how to do this in the first place.

Honestly I am just really confused with this part. Any feedback at all would appreciated.

Example image (I just created this in a pinch, it make not be perfectly accurate). Blue is dowel, red is the outline of the cup, green is the start point.

Thank You!

can i 3d print my own dowel? or does it have to be wooden?

terence.tan wrote:can i 3d print my own dowel? or does it have to be wooden?

Yes you can. Just make sure it's clear exactly what is the dowel to avoid any confusion when measurements are taken.

antoine_ego wrote:

terence.tan wrote:can i 3d print my own dowel? or does it have to be wooden?

Yes you can. Just make sure it's clear exactly what is the dowel to avoid any confusion when measurements are taken.

I don't really understand why anyone would want to 3D print a dowel when wooden dowels are readily available and more likely to comply.

Unome wrote:

antoine_ego wrote:

terence.tan wrote:can i 3d print my own dowel? or does it have to be wooden?

Yes you can. Just make sure it's clear exactly what is the dowel to avoid any confusion when measurements are taken.

I don't really understand why anyone would want to 3D print a dowel when wooden dowels are readily available and more likely to comply.

Might have something to do about weight? Though I'm not sure whether 3D printed injection plastic is lighter than balsa wood

Rêveur wrote:

Unome wrote:

antoine_ego wrote:
Yes you can. Just make sure it's clear exactly what is the dowel to avoid any confusion when measurements are taken.

I don't really understand why anyone would want to 3D print a dowel when wooden dowels are readily available and more likely to comply.

Might have something to do about weight? Though I'm not sure whether 3D printed injection plastic is lighter than balsa wood

Unome wrote:

antoine_ego wrote:

terence.tan wrote:can i 3d print my own dowel? or does it have to be wooden?

Yes you can. Just make sure it's clear exactly what is the dowel to avoid any confusion when measurements are taken.

I don't really understand why anyone would want to 3D print a dowel when wooden dowels are readily available and more likely to comply.

i want to make my dowel have a larger diameter so I can have a slightly better distance score. in the rules it said i can have a dowel 1/4" diameter or larger
does that make sense or a dumb idea

terence.tan wrote:

Rêveur wrote:

Unome wrote: I don't really understand why anyone would want to 3D print a dowel when wooden dowels are readily available and more likely to comply.

Might have something to do about weight? Though I'm not sure whether 3D printed injection plastic is lighter than balsa wood

Unome wrote:

antoine_ego wrote:
Yes you can. Just make sure it's clear exactly what is the dowel to avoid any confusion when measurements are taken.

I don't really understand why anyone would want to 3D print a dowel when wooden dowels are readily available and more likely to comply.

i want to make my dowel have a larger diameter so I can have a slightly better distance score. in the rules it said i can have a dowel 1/4" diameter or larger
does that make sense or a dumb idea

actually nvm. the rule clarification no longer allows that

terence.tan wrote:

Rêveur wrote:

Unome wrote: I don't really understand why anyone would want to 3D print a dowel when wooden dowels are readily available and more likely to comply.

Might have something to do about weight? Though I'm not sure whether 3D printed injection plastic is lighter than balsa wood

Unome wrote:

antoine_ego wrote:
Yes you can. Just make sure it's clear exactly what is the dowel to avoid any confusion when measurements are taken.

I don't really understand why anyone would want to 3D print a dowel when wooden dowels are readily available and more likely to comply.

i want to make my dowel have a larger diameter so I can have a slightly better distance score. in the rules it said i can have a dowel 1/4" diameter or larger
does that make sense or a dumb idea

Terence I've never thought about that, but I'm not sure it will work.
I'd check the rules though, because 7c. states that the Vehicle Distance is the pt to pt distance from the VTP to the closest part of the dowel.