Fall 2017, Weeks 10-12: Rapid Prototyping and Obstacles

These past few weeks, our team has continued to rapid prototype straight sections for the track. By the end of week 11, our team was able to construct a second straight section. However, with the cost of a single support, our team cannot yet mount the straight sections. Nonetheless, we can begin testing the robustness of our track with the bogie team. 

To minimize the BOM as much as possible, our team is leaning towards reducing the cross section of the aluminum rails to 1'' by 0.25''; previously, it was 1.5'' by 0.25''. We are able to do this because the bogie team's design does not need extra room at the bottom of the track. The reduction of the track's cross section also improves our specification of concentric curves, because it becomes easier to bend, and there are viable bending machines that we can use. 

To be honest, I was hoping to have made a curved section by this point of the project, but the obstacles we are facing in terms of bending machines is to be expected. We are hopeful that this problem will be resolved in the next few weeks.

Fall 2017, Weeks 8 and 9: Presentation 2 and Support Structure

In week 8 of the Spartan Superway project, our team presented our second presentation for the semester. After presenting our material, our peers pointed out that our designed support structure required an additional leveling system for un-leveled ground. My team considered ideas such as drilling holes through the support base to insert 4 adjustable bolts. This would allow us to angle the support as needed.

In week 9, my team continued to rapid prototype various components of the track. We also tested the bending machine in the workshop, and realized that the accuracy of the machine is not suitable for the tolerances of our project. With this complication, my team has to reconsider alternative methods to bend the aluminum. We also had to reconsider the size of aluminum that we would be using for the project.