LP/Absolute/Artos new conductive strips in daily use?

[brtech]

Yeah, we've done the math. The reality is actually better than that, but that is the allure. But unless we come up with a better option than we have (current material over concrete), I personally think it won't fly.

[Alex_Paul]

by we you mean you... as in us, as in manufacturers!

The strip on test with the USFA probably isn't suitable unless only used for foil and sabre. In the UK that strip is perfect on a sprung court floor where it needst to be moved either every day or every two days for a tournament.

One has to remember that the USFA are probably the only people in the world regularly laying anything like this many strips on to concrete.

Anything stronger and bouncier (thicker) will be heavier and in my experience a LOT heavier.

We looked at carbon loaded rubber and it is savagely heavy but very goofd in terms of durability, friction and bounce.

Any woven material with extra plastic, foam or other backing will also be very heavy.

[brtech]

Well

IF we could get sport court in all venues at a reasonable price

AND we could verify that this is viable (i.e. the strip performs well, and fencers like it)

then the "we" is USFA.

If a rubber strip lasted 6 seasons, and weighed around what the current aluminum strips weighed, and we had a trolley that let us lay them down and pick them up easily, then they would probably be better than the aluminum sectional. That would be "we" is manufacturers.

If they weighed more, or didn't last, then it's a loser.

[Alex_Paul]

apologies, I interpreted:

But unless we come up with a better option than we have

as a different strip rather than a way of laying very thin strip on concrete with an intermediate layer...

[rsy]

The NJ Division has purchased & is using 4 of the Absolute strips. They are twice as heavy as the original Artos strips, but they lay down flat and stay in place. We use 3-4 strips of 2" painters tape at each end to eliminate any movement.

We purchased these roll-up strips over the metal panel strips after comparing the cost of acquisition, storage and transportation. We estmate that if the strips last 2 seasons, they are cheaper than buying the more durable, but much heavier and bulkier metal panel strips.

I have seen one person move one of these strips around, but that is not recommended for anyone who wants to stand upright the next morning. Two people and a hand truck do the trick. Two strips will fit in the back of my Volvo wagon. 4 strips go in a full size SUV.

These strips are not in every day use. We use them for tournaments only, but our events are large and the strips will have 60-70 pool bouts and 20-30 DE bouts per day. They did get a few tip-sized holes, but I will be patching them with some lame cloth. Otherwise they seem to be holding up as expected.

Interesting note: 2 of the strips were defective (Absolute replaced them immediately and without question). The resistance was too high (1,000 ohms end to end & 1,000+ ohms in various spots) due I am told to a problem with the glue. The interesting thing is that whille our Favero machines reacted to the problem by showing the strip as ungrounded, the SG machines were quite happy to show a strip with 1,000+ ohms resitance as grounded.

-r

[oso97]

Interesting note: 2 of the strips were defective (Absolute replaced them immediately and without question). The resistance was too high (1,000 ohms end to end & 1,000+ ohms in various spots) due I am told to a problem with the glue. The interesting thing is that whille our Favero machines reacted to the problem by showing the strip as ungrounded, the SG machines were quite happy to show a strip with 1,000+ ohms resitance as grounded.

-r

Reacted in what sense? As in, touch the strip and a touch is indicated on the machine (or not, depending upon what the case may be)?

[rsy]

Reacted in what sense? As in, touch the strip and a touch is indicated on the machine (or not, depending upon what the case may be)?

As in, touch the strip and a touch is indicated on the Favero machine as if the strip was not grounded. But when the strip is hooked up to the SG machine, touch the stip and no touch is indicated on the SG machine.

The Favero machine sees a strip with 1000+ ohms of resistance as ungrounded, but the SG machine sees the same 1000+ ohm strip as grounded.

-r

[SJCFU#2]

The Favero machine sees a strip with 1000+ ohms of resistance as ungrounded, but the SG machine sees the same 1000+ ohm strip as grounded.

Looking at Appendix B of the material rules, there does not appear to be any requirement for the scoring machine to register a touch on a grounded strip when the resistance exceeds some level, only that touches not register when resistance is less than 100 ohms. The SG machine may have been more forgiving of high resistance in the ground circuit than the Favero but neither was necessarily incorrect.

Just for reference, the maximum allowable resistance of a strip is only 5 ohms (m.57.1).

[rsy]

Looking at Appendix B of the material rules, there does not appear to be any requirement for the scoring machine to register a touch on a grounded strip when the resistance exceeds some level, only that touches not register when resistance is less than 100 ohms. The SG machine may have been more forgiving of high resistance in the ground circuit than the Favero but neither was necessarily incorrect.

Just for reference, the maximum allowable resistance of a strip is only 5 ohms (m.57.1).

FYI, we experimented a bit and found that the Faveros worked fine at any level below 200 ohms.

I saw an epee fencer at our Div 3 SNQ fencing on the strip with the SG machine. He was bathed in sweat from head to toe and his shoes & socks were soaked and squishishing. Probably not possible because of the rubber soles on the shoes, but I wondered if he could get grounded to the strip with a salt bridge. Maybe he should fence in his stocking feet?

-r