Curbell Plastics, Inc., one of the nation’s premier suppliers of plastic sheet, rod, tube and film continued its support of high school robotics programs with a donation to Webster High Schools. Curbell Plastics donated plastic materials to the SparX team for construction of a robotic device for a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competition held at Rochester Institute of Technology.
The SparX team worked to design and build a robot from scratch, using specifications and rules from FIRST, a global organization that promotes hands-on learning of science and technology for students around the world. The team competed at the FIRST Robotics Finger Lakes Regional. The team was in need of durable materials that could stand up to the rigor of the robotics competition and would protect the internal gears and workings of the robot. Plastics are often preferred in robotics because they are lightweight, durable and flexible. Curbell Plastics was able to help by donating HDPE sheet, polycarbonate sheet, fluted polypropylene sheet, and nylon rod for the build.
According to Patrick Castrechini, Business Manager for Curbell Plastics Rochester and Western New York locations, “We are always happy to help high school robotics teams, particularly since many of them seek plastics for their design. It is also a win for us, especially if the teams can use some of our inventory that may be headed for recycling or a landfill. We are able to reduce our environmental footprint and support students and education at the same time.”
Webster High Schools SparX Robotics team.
Filed Under: Materials • advanced, Robotics • robotic grippers • end effectors