Fall 2017, Week 4: Design Work

             This week, our team continued to work on designing the switch section of the track. We are devoting a lot of time into this section because without it, the Spartan Superway project will not succeed. I have been working on the support bracket for the area of the switch. (Seen below) The dimensions for this design has not been finalized.

Figure 1: Switch-section bracket

           The switch support bracket will guide the Superway using a divider located at the top of the bracket. My first design utilizes 3 modular parts: the main support bracket, the detachable guide component, and rails.

Figure 2: Detachable component

            This component determines the direction the bogie will follow. The two inserts on the bottom of the part will house the rails to guide the track. 

Fall 2017, Week 3: Presentation Preparation and Further Design Work

          This week, the track team for the 1/12th scale and full scale teams got a glimpse of what the Futran system would look like. In our separate teams, we started to prepare material for our first major presentation of the semester. In addition, we explored options to how the switching mechanism would be achieved on the 1/12th scale model. My main concern for this portion of the project is the stability and integrity of the bogie as it makes the switch. As such, our team has been in constant contact with the bogie team. By next week, I hope to have design sketches or CAD models, so that we can start rapid prototyping.

Fall 2017, Week 2: Lightning Talks and Team Meetings

     This week, we participated in Lightning Talks, in which each team presented their project descriptions, specifications and end goals. After presenting our topic, our team gathered to discuss further project goals. 
     After much discussion, it was clear that adopting the Futran design for the track would require great improvements to the bending machine. I contacted a member of last year's team to ask for advice on the machine, as well as things to consider while designing the track.
     One characteristic we must consider is the elasticity of the metal being bent. Last year's team found that the metal was bent past its elastic point, so they only had one attempt to bend the metal to the correct specification. In addition, the type of aluminum being used affects the required bending radii. 
     With this in mind, I will be using the weekend to research  possible alternatives to the metal being used for the track, as well as possible solutions to our current bending machine. By next week, my goal is to start designing the new Futran track system.

Fall 2017, Week 1: First Team Meetings

      This week, we toured the facility for the Spartan Superway Project. We were shown the existing track and bogie system for the full scale model, as well as the 12th scale model system.
   
      In addition, we were assigned into sub-project teams. I have been assigned to work on the track system for the 12th scale model. In our sub-teams, we created a blog to keep track of our work for the project. The link for this blog is spartantrackteam.blogspot.com. Using a new adopted track system, our goal for this project is to create a track that will encompass the existing model. We hope to have a functional track by next spring.