Most designs
for foil points contain the same basic elements
shown in the model on the left.
These parts are:
- The Point Tip which moves within the barrel
- The point insulator or sleeve which is sometimes
built into the tip
- The barrel/base which screws onto the blade
- A contact within the barrel/base which is
attached to the wire running down the blade.
This must be insulated from the barrel/base
- Grub screws which hold the point within
the barrel/base
- A spring to provide the required 500g resistance
On the Right
is a 3d animation of a working Leon Paul GT
point. This cut away model shows what happens
within a foil point as it is depressed. The
circuit, which is normally closed between
the grub screw and the part of the point tip
on the farthest right of the model, is broken
as the tip is depressed. The break in the
circuit causes a white light if the point
tip is not in contact with the opponents lame
and a coloured light if it is.
Each manufacturer has their own design of tip which has its own relative strengths and weaknesses. The three main types of points are most commonly refered to as British, French and German, the diagrams on the left show the three designs of point. The British point has the thickest barrel wall and so does not need a tool to straighten deformed barrels.
