SMALL CLEVER MACHINE

This is an ongoing project, where we are supposed to convert rotary motion to linear motion and allow it to perform a simple task. for example, a machine that turns the pages of a book with linear motion but by the turn of a handle.

This design process, started with idea formulation and then the group used idea selection methods in order choose the final design. Out of a group of 4 each member listed three ideas, and then these ideas were critically analysed based no the design criteria, and finally the idea with the highest score was chosen. In this case it was my idea of a bottle top opener. Collectively as a group we improved the design, ordered the required parts and created a CAD model using Solidworks.  The images below show the sketches and CAD drawings of the machine. (click image to enlarge)

BASIC DEIGN CONCEPTS

The basic idea is to turn a handle which turns gears which push out racks in a linear motion, unscrewing the top of the bottle.

INTEGRATED/DETAILED FINAL DESIGN

An image of the final  and working machine will be uploaded once our group has finished building it.

- Ahana Kothari

CLOCKWORKS

After the December break, I was back to work. This time we were instructed to build a track out of wood and plastic, which started at 3 cm and ended at 3 cm height. This tracks aim was to support a pin pong ball from the start to the finish. This might make you think, 'how is this related to product deign engineering?' This exercise allows us to understand the small projects a designer must perform in order to present their capabilities to their client. Each group's track had a specific theme, ours was space therefore our team name was interstellar. Another condition that we had to follow that we could only use air pressure as an energy form which is why we use hair dryers. This project required time and effort and the track did work but sometimes it did not which goes on to show that products can be unpredictable. However a designer must test the product to ensure that it works and performs the required action every time.

Below are some sketches of the track design, Along with images and videos.

OVERVIEW OF THE TRACK

FRONT VIEW

TOP VIEW

SOLAR SYSTEM

           

                                                                      ROCKET                                                                        

 BLACK HOLE

                                                              LAUNCH PAD

                               Models by: Ellie, Ahana, Will, Eugene, Emma

This video shows a test run where the track did work.

The link below will take you the video of the final test where all the groups tracks were connected together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSgBcU4flOE&feature=youtu.be

This was an interesting project, it forced us to do before thinking.
- Ahana Kothari