In terms of project progress, our team has not met our semester goal of rapid prototyping a switch section. Our team had difficulty creating concentric curves with the bending machine in the shop, so we are still trying to determine how to make a prototype. If bending metal is no longer an option, our team is considering the option of using wood. Although this section will not as durable as a metal section, we will be able to test if our design will help the bogie pass the clearance gap.
The final design for the attachment to the switch section can be viewed below.
This design was chosen because it provides a smooth transition onto the third rail of the system. The third rail can be inserted into the sleeve located on the lower section of the attachment. The results of FEA through SolidWorks shows that the attachment will not fail under the load of multiple bogies pushing against the third rail.
To wrap up the semester, our team is currently completing the final report for the semester. We have also finished the Bill of Materials for our design. Looking to next semester, it is clear that we have a lot of work ahead of us.
