Blasian Engineering: 2011

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Egg Drop Challenge - Iteration #1

~~Egg Drop Activity~~

30 Achievements

Weight 42.8g

1-3 Create a Sketch of possible solution

4. Use a decision matrix

5.List of Materials for build day

6.Plan for bringing in materials.-
I found the styrofoam ;While Austin planned to bring in the parachute material (tissue paper), and I was tasked wiith bringing in the string.

7.Material fit in Printer Box

8.Materials fit in shoe box

9-14. Weighs less than 50g
weighed 42.8g

15-19. Hit Bullseye

20-26. Egg didnt break/crack/spill

27. Describe using Alebra
28. Describe using Arithmetic
29. Describe using Geometry
30. Describe using calculus

5) What designs from your class did well? Based on the achievements you earned, how would you redesign your solution to score better? Be specific (sketches with labeling work well for this).
The parachute designs seemed to do the best. The parachute slowed down the egg enough to were the force of the landing wasn't enough to break the egg. If I had to redesign my project, I would try and shave off a few grams to try and get it under 25g and fit into an altoid box. I would have used only a parachute and made a harness with which to put the egg in. If we did this, im confident we would not lose any of our current achievements and we would have improved the efficiency of our design.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

glider

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Glider Design Guidelines

1) What's the challenge?

2) Brainstorm solutions:
-What are the rules of brainstorming? (oxymoron)
-List your ideas
-Sketch at least two of them

3) Specify:
-Criteria
-Constraints (be specific about materials available)

4) Develop Solutions:
-Sketch (with labels)
-Model in CAD

Bonus) Prototype your prototype with Paper

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Marble Machine Control Project

Achievements
For future projects, I believe that an achievement for using little to no pneumatic devices would be extremely unique and challenging, as most groups used multiple in their projects. I also think that an achievement where you leave out a key component of the intended design (in our case we left out the magnets) which would encourage innovative and creative designs.

Helping Hand
Tom helped our group out early on by giving us a design tip. He was the one that showed us how to create pressure in our pneumatic system and how to wire the pneumatic motors a certain way that made it easier to program with.

Reflection
In my opinion, we accomplished our objectives very well. We were able to create an innovative and unique design that completed the process with a lot of time to spare. In the future, I think we would use a magnet instead of using our spring because the major flaw in our design was that we could only complete the process if the wooden marbles did not follow a metal marble. The results fulfill the problem statement very well because we were able to sort out all 5 different types of marbles into different bins in less than two minutes (1:20 seconds was roughly our time). Freddy and I have learned the importance of an attention to detail, because the smallest adjustments produce a misreading that leads to a failed attempt, whether it be with the bins that catch the marbles pushed off by the spring, or the gate that lets the photo resistor differentiate between the colors of the marbles. We have learned how to program as well, our program was very complicated and we used a couple subprograms to achieve our desired result. We had a few challenges that faced us with regard to working in a team, one of us would bump something that we had been working on fixing or change part of the program which instead of helping us take a step forward, made us take two steps back. The purpose of this design problem was to teach us to work in teams, be able to program and use the various Fisher robotics parts, and finally show us some of the skills needed to use later on in our engineering careers. These skills include: teamwork, attention to detail, perseverance, dedication, creativity, and most of all, the importance of consulting with our peers on common problems.

Final Design
1. This is where our design begins This is the Compressor which builds the necessary pressure to operate the Pneumatics, and is stored in the blue container.

2 a. Here if the marbles are small enough, (either the wood or metal) the follow the track down the track where the heavier one (metal) will go past the spring and the lighter (wood ) will "spring backwards to a different bin

2. b. If the marble is too large to fit into wood and metal marble track it is stopped in front of the Pneumatic device which launches it onto another track.

4. On the next track the marble is stopped by our gate which is programed to hold the marble in place in front of the Photosensor to get an accurate reading of the marbles translucency.

5 Last, depending on what reading the photosensor gets it will fire one or none of the Pneumatics to either guide the marbles off the track or let it follow it all the way down the track.

6. Here is our main program. This program is responsible for seperating the metal/wooden marbles from the glass marbles (discussed in part 2)

7. Next, we have our glass program.

This was the part of the programming that took the most time to complete. We had to spend quite a few class periods to finally find the values that worked. When the marble arrives at the photoresistor, this program dictates what happens based on that reading. If the photo resistor gets a reading less than 240, it moves onto the next branch of the program. If its more than 240, the marble is placed in the bin on the right. The next branch takes that reading and if it is more than 200, then it is placed in the bin on the left. If it is less than 200, then nothing happens and it rolls into the bin waiting at the bottom of the ramp.

8. Lastly, we have our gate program. This program is responsible for controlling the gate that keeps the marble in the photoresistor long enough for it to get a reading.

We had to find times that worked so that the gate did not move to a different spot at any point during the trial. We found that the gate moved faster going down than it did going up, so, as you can see in the program, we made it go 1.5 seconds up and 1.4 seconds down to combat this problem.

Design Modifications
Altogether we didnt have too many modifications to our machine

Here we added another flat piece attached to the metal pole to prevent anymarble from being lauched too far and off of the track.

-Here we added another support beam in order to further stabilize our gate to get more consistent readings from our photosensor.

To further stabilize our gate, in order to get consistent readings for the photosensor we added the flat red pieces to reduce any twisting or torquing of the building blocks.

Also we flipped around the motor itself to reduce the amount of give it would have from going up and down.

Final Design Solution
(idea hatched on 3/22/11)
We decided upon using the spring to seperate between the wooden and metal marbles in order to save time and wiring. Once calibrated, the marbles were consistently seperated so long as they didn't come through at the same time. We then chose to use a photoresistor to seperate the different colors between the marbles.

Machine Control: Captsone Project: Decision Matrix

Reliability
Time
Efficiency
Innovative
total

Pneumatic
2
3
4
3
12

Tree Design (magnets)
1
2
3
4
10

Spring
3
1
1
1
6

Photosensors
2
4
2
2
10

Because the pneumatics scored the worst, we tried to use as little as possible. The spring was extremely innovative, and required no power, only that it needed to be calibrated. The photo sensors worked well, but only when the marbles were opaque in nature. We decided to scrap magnets altogether because the spring would take care of the

Machine Control Capstone Project: Brainstorm

-Brainstorming Ideas:

This was the first order of business, we had to find a way to get our motors to start working. We added a variable counter also as a psuedo-timer to make sure our recycling center didn't go on forever.

We then made a brainstorm where we would work out a way to seperate the marbles (we didn't end up going with this design)

Freddy had the bright idea of adding a spring to our recycling center in order to help seperate the metal and wooden marbles (as opposed to using a magnet)

We also chose to use a photo resistor to differentiate between the different types of marbles.

Friday, March 4, 2011

OPT-in Chromium Mystery

Chromium is essentially Stainless Steel and the grade shown on the packaging is the type of stainless steel and the amount of Chromium or other materials are in it . Ours shows a "Grade 24" which puts it in a a Chrmomium containing stainless steel category. Specifically

"Ferritic Stainless SteelThe family of Ferritic stainless steel alloys has chromium content of more than 10.5% and a low carbon content. They are plain chromium grades, display magnetic properties and cannot be hardened. They are not suitable for fabrication and are moderately resistant to corrosion. They can be polished and are used for the manufacture of automotive exhausts and sometimes for welding applications. "

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-are-the-different-grades-of-stainless-steel.html

3.1.2 Flowcharting

Conclusion:
1.How is flowcharting similar to using a map to plan for a road trip.
They are similar in that both give directions on what to do step by step.
2 Flow Chart of a Potential day

Monday, February 28, 2011

3.1.7 Machine Control Design

For 3.1.7 We opted to build a motor driven cart that included safety switches and controlled by a potentiometer.

This is the first attempt at creating a Program for our motor driven cart.
didnt work too well due to their not being anypotentiometer requirements and there was no way to stop the cart.

This was our end product.
Obviously had a little to many commands than necessary but this program created a endless loop in which the cart could run with or without using the potentiometer.

These are our brainstorm sketchesto the cart problem.

We opted for the Top design due to its more concise design.

Lastly here is our actual build

Conclusions:
1.The most difficult part of the problem would have to be the writing of the actual program.
Because
-Utilizing potentiometer.
-getting program to work non-stop
-Organizing inputs and outputs
-finding icons of parts we need.

2. Two features not included in the design that could be incorporated to better the design could be a
A.- Longer rail or curved rails so that the cart could travel over longer distances and be used more efficently.
B.-Larger Cart so that more objects could be carried by the cart over the distance.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Sample Program 2/22/11 3.1.7

Today in Prin. of Enineering we created a Simulation flow chart that included variables in a simulation that looped 5 times using the Branch plug.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Content Is King

Q- What is a field/hobby/something you have a passion for (surfing, sailing, robotics, painting, etc.)?
A-A hobby that I have a passion for is learning about fire arms particularly Magpul.

Q- What person or organization in that field has used blogging to promote their brand?
A-They use forums rather than blogs but both have the same use of getting their name out through the sharing of information whther it be straight from them or through customers and owners.
http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f53/

Q- What is a field you might see yourself blogging about?

A- I could see myself blogging about different types of firearms , their usefulness, price and efficency.

Activity 3.1.1 Inputs and outputs

Mini Switch:
       Not pressing switch, plugs in 1 and 3
-unchecked
-zero
-voltage not present
       Pressing switch , plugs in 1 and 3
-checked
-one
-voltage present

    Plugs in 1 and 2
-reversed from when it is in plugs one and three
-switch constantly on when unpressed
-when pressed the current is stopped

Analog Inputs
Potentiometer
-Range 49-5500Ohms
NTC resistor
-value 1186
NTC Resistor warmed
-value 1140
Outputs
-One can change the direction of the motor shaft without switching between CW and CCW by putting power to O1 for CW or O2 for CCW

15.When the reed switch and eleectromagnettouch there is a current through the reed switch moving it from zero to one
16.normally close
18 the more light the photoresistor recieves the less it can actually resist
19.There is no relationship.
Conclusion

1.the two lines together means constantly on and the lines broken up means constantly off
2.resistance decreases as the NTC resistor heats up because warmer metals transfer current easier than cold metals allowing the current to travel through it easier.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Survival at Sea

When posed the question what was most important to save in the event of a shipwreck, we were asked to choose from 15 items and number them in order of importance. Then get together in groups and collaboratively decide on what the whole believed what the most important items were.I chose Water and Army Rations as my top moost important items. I chose water because it is the most necessary component to surviving longer periods of time. With water one can survive longer in order to be found. Same as the Army food Rations, they come with necessary food and items that can help on preserve themselve longer in order to be found. My bottom two least important items included the maps of the Pacific Ocean and the Sextant. Both seem to be great items to keep, however due to my lack of knowledge of how to use a sextant and the location of where I am in the ocean would make the Sextant and Maps practically useless. I had a hard time in choosing the importance of survival items vs. items that would help get me rescued. In example I couldn't decide whter or not I should put the shaving mirror or Water first. Shaving mirror could help me signal planes or ships however if I didnt ave water I could only do that for a few days. With the water I could survive longer however there wouldnt be a very efficent way to signal for help.
When paired in the team we came up with our top choices to be the Water and the shaving mirror as the top two choices. We were pretty unanimous about the decision because we all agreed that we needed to survive(water) and be able to signal for help (shaving mirror). For our bottom choices we selected the Maps and the Sextant for the same reasons that I had chose them as my bottom choices.

The choice of the Coast Guard was not all too suprising because it seems that they came down to the same two choices of whether to save items of survival or rescue. The Coast Guard chose The shaving mirror and Petrol oil as the two most important. Their plan is clearly aimed towards the rescue, using the shaving mirror during the da and te petrol oil for signaling at night which would be great if you were rescued quickly. However if rescue takes too long it may result in ones death without the tools for survival (Water Food).

Units

l (distance) = m

t (time) = s

m (mass) = kg

a (area) = m^2

v (velocity) = m/s

P(density) = Kg/m^3

g (gravity) = m/s^2

F (force) = KgM/S^2

E (energy) = KgM^2/S^2

P (power) = KgM^2/S^3

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Team Building exercise #1 1/25/11

Today in Engineering we began by doing a team building exercise in which we had two teams of ten. The rules to the exercise was to at first, get the ball to touch everyone in the circle. My team, which was team #1 approached the excercise by first brainstorming ways to accomplish the goal. In group one we discovered that being in a circle was the best approach to the issue. Next, we found if we all went hands in at the same time and dropped the ball on the groups hands we could simultaneous give the ball to everyone at one time. Using this technique we one 2 out of 3 times which led to us winning the 1st Team exercise.