Week: 11/08 - 11/15

Over this past week we were very busy working on our MCM and the motor assignment. Our MCM work involved revising the design a bit after multiple design conversations with Professor Hart and the GSIs. The biggest thing we determined was that our MCM (arm) was too weak and needed some reinforcements. Also we needed more support for our bushings. Our solution was to make a cap for the top (out of delrin which is smooth enough to act as bushings) and make some braces inside the arm to support across the entire length. The cap (shown here on the arm without the top piece) will also support the motor (which turns a pulley that rotates our scoop) when the top piece is in place.

The cap component was the first part we made this week, on the laser cutter (pics coming soon). It should be noted that it took us a few tries (on small test pieces) to get the correct power and speed settings for the laser, for delrin (to make the correct fits between the notches of the walls of the cap).

In regards to the motor assignment, well... that didn't go well because we burned up our motor. A small miscommunication that led to misalignment in assembly of the gearbox cost us our motor when we put 5 volts to it and noticed it was not spinning. The motor got hot quickly, and smelled like burnt plastic after that. Once the misaligned gears were corrected, the motor still did not work, so we are getting a new one.

Next week: 11/15 - 11/22
- Finish assembly and manufacturing for MCM
- Exam
- Finish engineering for rest of design