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How Centauri Carbon Empowered FTC Team #14706’s Breakthrough Robotics Season

How Centauri Carbon Empowered FTC Team #14706’s Breakthrough Robotics Season

How Centauri Carbon Empowered FTC Team #14706’s Breakthrough Robotics Season
In the world of student robotics competitions, innovation often comes down to one thing: the ability to turn ideas into reality—quickly, accurately, and reliably. For FTC Team #14706 Armada Pi-Gears, a middle school robotics team from Michigan, 3D printing became the key that unlocked an entirely new level of engineering creativity.
Made up of students aged 11–14, the team competes in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), where teams are tasked with designing, building, and programming robots for an annual game challenge. This season, the team achieved a major milestone: creating what they describe as their “most 3D printed state-qualifying robot in competition history.”
And at the center of that journey was the Centauri Carbon.

Turning Ideas Into Functional Robot Systems

For the Armada Pi-Gears team, 3D printing was not limited to small add-ons. It became an important part of how the students developed core robot systems.
With Centauri Carbon printers and ELEGOO filament, the team produced nearly every custom-designed component on the robot. From intake systems and sensor mounts to battery holders and launch housings, almost every functional and aesthetic element was designed, tested, and printed in-house.
Only the motors, servos, shafts, and some standard hardware components remained off-the-shelf.
The team explained that rapid prototyping completely changed how they approached robot design:
“We can have several new iterations ready and printed within a single meeting (2 hours) to test and redo on the spot rather than waiting between meeting days to get a prototype or final product to install. The accurate prints are even more impressive with great support removal after,” said members of FTC Team #14706 Armada Pi-Gears.
This ability to iterate quickly gave the students more freedom to experiment, refine mechanisms, and improve overall performance during the competition season.

A Huge Leap From Their Previous Setup

Before adding Centauri Carbon to their workflow, the team relied on older printers with limited print capacity, slower speeds, and reliability issues. Large parts were difficult—or impossible—to produce, and failed prints often slowed progress.
The difference became immediately noticeable after switching to the Centauri Carbon.
The team highlighted several major improvements in their build workflow:
  • Faster prototyping between design reviews
  • More reliable printing for larger robot parts
  • Easier support removal during assembly
  • More accurate details for fit-critical components
  • More consistent print results across the season

The students especially enjoyed using Rapid PLA+ filament, noting how the vibrant orange color helped their robot stand out while matching their team identity.
“ELEGOO Centauri Carbon has changed the way we design our robots. The accuracy, ease of use, fast print times, and value for the money are unsurpassed in our opinion,” said members of FTC Team #14706 Armada Pi-Gears.

Engineering Creativity on Full Display

One of the most impressive aspects of the project was just how deeply 3D printing was integrated into the robot itself.
The team created:
  • Intake shaft adapters and spacers
  • Intake ramps
  • Sorter housing systems
  • Rotating paddles
  • Sensor mounts
  • Electronics hub hinges
  • Battery containers
  • Switch protector diverter arms
  • Launch housings
  • Deflector hoods

These weren’t just cosmetic additions—they were critical performance components that helped the robot function during competition.
The flexibility of CAD design and rapid printing allowed the team to build parts that would have been much harder to make with traditional materials and manufacturing methods.

Standing Out at the Competition

At the competition, the robot quickly became a conversation piece.
Judges and other teams were amazed by the size, accuracy, and integration of the printed components. The robot showcased how accessible manufacturing tools can help young students to tackle advanced engineering challenges.
Like any robotics team, Armada Pi-Gears still encountered engineering challenges along the way. Some design integrations needed refinement once the robot was tested in real match conditions, turning each match into another opportunity to learn and improve.
That constant cycle of testing, observing, redesigning, and improving became part of the learning experience that defines robotics competitions.
Their hard work paid off.
The Armada Pi-Gears team finished:
  • 12th out of 36 teams in tournament gameplay
  • Won the 1st Place Inspire Award, one of the top honors in FTC
  • Earned an invitation to the State Championship

More Than Just a Robot

Beyond competition success, the project also became a platform for education, mentorship, and community growth.
The team began 3D printing only a few years ago in 2022, but they have already dramatically expanded their CAD and engineering capabilities. They now hope to continue using 3D printing not only for future robots, but also to help other local teams improve their own design and build skills.
The team is also exploring future projects involving engraving and acrylic sponsor displays as part of their outreach efforts.
Most importantly, the students recognized the people who supported them throughout the journey:
“To all of our families, current and former mentors, our student mentors, former Pi-Gear members, Armada Schools, and very importantly, all of our financial supporters; we could never have achieved all we have as a team without each of your support,” said members of FTC Team #14706 Armada Pi-Gears.

Looking Ahead

With the State Championship approaching, Team #14706 Armada Pi-Gears continues refining their robot and pushing their engineering skills even further.
Their story shows how accessible manufacturing tools can bring advanced design and prototyping into student learning environments. With the right tools, mentorship, and creativity, middle school students can take on serious engineering challenges and bring sophisticated ideas to competition.
We wish FTC Team #14706 Armada Pi-Gears the best of luck at the State Championship and look forward to seeing what they create next.

 

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