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.