Chainsaw?????

That's a point; does it count as a spinning weapon? I can see how it could, but then its just a chain with teeth on it, and plenty of robots run chains.
Then again, using that logic, I suppose a disc is just a wheel with teeth on it, and plenty of robots have wheels :uhoh:

Think I just negated my own question!

Spinners are defined in the rules:

11.2 Limits
Rotational weapons exceeding any TWO of the three limits below must be submitted for review and be preapproved
by the event organiser.
11.2.1 Weight
The spinning element is more than 20% of the robots total weight. (This includes any directly coupled
motor components rotating on the same axis).
11.2.2 Speed
The spinning element spins above 500 RPM.
11.2.3 Size
The spinning element is greater than 24 inches in diameter

I think a chainsaw would probably slip under the 20% and 500rpm rule (if set as such)

so technically, if one was set up accordingly, it would be able to run in something like a robotslive arena? or would the spinner proof arena still be needed?

You'd have to run it by the Event organiser but if you make sure it complies with the rules to make it an 'un-classified' spinner they shouldn't really refuse.

Why would a spinning chain be more than 20% of the robot's weight?

S*!tloads of Duplex chains with teeth ? :)

...good answer :)

It would be good though if someone built a heavyweight with a chainsaw that would be allowed to compete. Okay, so they're not that effective but it'd look great, sound great, would have the proper retro-bot feel and, most importantly, wouldn't be a flipper.

Go on somebody, please :)

Is it possible to custom design a chainsaw to be more effective at cutting metals than the wood cutting industry standard ones?

I mean, as long as you can get teeth made out of a harder and more abrasive material than what you are cutting, it should work. Why can't you have a chainsaw with tungsten carbide blades coated in diamond dust?

you probably could but there wouldn't be much point, chainsaws are designed to only take small chunks of material away with each tooth bite. You would have to have your opponent be very nice and stay still for a half minute or so whilst you chomp slowly away at them. Forget the chainsaws, build a disc, drum or egg beater and have some fun in the featherweights