Thought I'd better comment as it concerns my misfire.

Firstly, it wasn't a near miss, it was a safe miss the rules in place worked.
I use a tool Armed from the side, it takes my had away from the robot and I've campaigned for years everyone should use one.

It misfired due to a regulator fault, I always treat the robot that it might fire, and it makes the scariest noise when it fills the buffer.
The robot fired and it flipped onto its back. Not an issue as my hand was well out I the way.

However ......

I've always been against locking pins holding flippers down, as I've thought a misfire while removing and you're in trouble.
But I was wrong ... Yep I'm admitting after this weekend I was wrong.

I will be fitting a locking bar to ripper before it goes to the new owner, and the new ripper will be designed with a locking bar in place.

When I arm it up, if it fires it doesn't matter!!
The robot will get to a stable state and one quick pull of the bar will then remove it.

I had already changed my mind when I fitted a locking bar to TR2 when I built it as it was a great addition.

Plus every machine should have one, and as part of an annual tech check it must be fired in the arena to prove it works and is strong enough.

John
Robot Wars.