Parts cost money and have delivery times. Teams that plan their budget build smarter, waste less, and have a real answer for judges who ask “why did you choose that solution?”
New game-specific components + consumables + 1–2 motor replacements
Adding a lift, shooter, or significant new system on top of existing base
Full V5 system + structure + mechanisms, no existing parts inventory
Consumables, batteries, any replacement motors you already know you need. These are safe to order before the design is finalized because you will use them regardless.
Mechanism-specific parts once the CAD model is complete. Generate the BOM from Onshape. Cross off anything already in inventory. Order everything remaining.
Replacement parts, anything that broke during build, spare motors for competition pit box. This is the last safe window for standard shipping.
A motor burns out 3 days before competition. What now?
A shared Google Sheet is enough. Three tabs:
Every motor, sensor, and major structural component. Columns: item, quantity, condition, last used. Update when you pull parts for the robot or return them.
Screws (by size and quantity), zip ties, Loctite, rubber bands, anti-slip mat. Set a reorder threshold — when you hit it, add to next order.
Every order placed: date, items, cost, expected delivery. Running total lets you track actual vs. budgeted spend.
Historical hypothetical example (not a team notebook entry or current Override strategy): “We had about $300 to spend on new parts this season because we reuse most of our structure. That constraint forced us to choose between building a lift and a shooter. We ran the expected-value math based on the scoring rules and the lift scored more points per second for Push Back, so we invested there. The budget decision and the game analysis agreed.”
Record sponsorships and grants accurately: source, intended use, and the work they enabled. Funding is project context, not an automatic judging advantage.