And like was said earlier, don't worry about it being perfect. In fact it's better if it's not perfect. The tables at a tournament seldom are. It is a valuable exercise when preparing for an event to slide the mat around a little, get it a little out of square, make it a little lumpy, etc.. If you can deal with those factors during practice then you will be more successful at the tournaments. On Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 3:10 PM, Darlene Pantaleo <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > The rules and setup instructions for the mat: > *FIELD MAT PLACEMENT* > *Step 1 *- Vacuum the table top. Even the tiniest particle under the mat > can give the robot trouble. After vacuuming, run your hand > over the surface and sand or file down any protruding imperfections you > find. Then vacuum again. > *Step 2 *- On the vacuumed surface (never unroll the mat in an area where > it could pick up particles), unroll the mat so the image is up > and its north edge is near the north/double border wall (note the location > of the double wall in each table sketch below). > *Step 3 *- The mat is smaller than the playing surface by design. Slide > and align it so that there is no gap between the south edge of the > mat and the south border wall. Center the mat in the east-west direction > (look for equal gaps at left and right). > *Step 4 *- With help from others, pull the mat at opposite ends and > massage out any waviness away from the center and re-check the > requirement of Step 3. It is expected that some waviness will persist, but > that should relax over time. Some teams use a hair dryer to > speed the relaxation of the waviness. > > > Follow these instructions and you'll be fine. > > On Sep 11, 2013, at 2:47 PM, Barry Moses wrote: > > I built the full competition table to the specified FLL dimensions. I > noticed when I rolled the mat out that it has some space between the edge > of mat and the 2x4's. Will this make a difference in competition? The > whole thing could be shifted a half to three quarters of an inch. I just > put starting block all the way in the corner and leave the gaps in the far > edges. > > *From:* Darlene Pantaleo <[log in to unmask]> > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 11, 2013 2:38 PM > > *Subject:* Re: [VADCFLL-L] Home Depot / Lowes donation for table supplies? > > For the purpose of practice, you can always build the 4'x8' frame, paint > it black, and put it on the floor or large enough table surface with the > mat inside the border. It's cheap and much easier to store. Simple > double-sided tape will hold the mat in place and will not add any bumps or > thickness. Just a thought... > > As to getting help, Lowe's gave me 50% off when I asked them for help a > few years ago. Other places have given me $25 gift cards on the spur of the > moment, as long as I had a letterhead from a nonprofit in hand. I have > heard that most managers of local chains can approve up to $100 without > involving their corporate offices. > > On Sep 11, 2013, at 2:16 PM, Christina's IPad wrote: > > Bummer. I couldn't even get help from lowes for a discount or tax > exempt status for the Girl Scout Robotics team. Kept getting different > answers from various people at the Customer Service Desk. > > Wish I had gone to Home Depot first. I already purchased at Lowes & built > our table. > > Christina > Sent from my iPad > > On Sep 11, 2013, at 1:39 PM, Barry Moses <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Anyone have luck getting HD or, Lowe's support after the table is > built? > > Barry Moses > Seahawks Coach > > *From:* Leah Stone <[log in to unmask]> > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 11, 2013 11:10 AM > *Subject:* Re: [VADCFLL-L] Home Depot / Lowes donation for table supplies? > > All Home Depots will do this, as it is their Corp policy that the store > managers can 'on site' aprove request $50 and under. The cutting to size is > something they do in store for eveyone. > > Happy building! > > Leah Stone > Creeping Creeper, FLL > Baby Creepers, Jr. FLL > Brain Bots, Jr. FLL > > > On Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 10:30 AM, MH Thompson <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > > Does anyone know if Home Depot or Lowes in the Richmond area provides any > support for FLL teams to assist in the purchase of supplies for building > the > table? If so, which stores helped with this? > > I know someone mentioned previously that Home Depot offered a $50 gift card > to use toward the purchase of table materials in the Charlottesville area. > Hoping to find some assistance in the Richmond area. > > Thanks! > > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > > -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via > VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to > subscribe. > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. > > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. > > > > ------------------------------ > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. 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