Team Information

Team members

Brian Chiem

Ola Løken

Alexander Reed

Sally Tran

Click here to contact the Team

Sponsor

Robert Bussell, Ph.D, Associate Development Engineer

Center for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CFMRI)

http://fmri.ucsd.edu/

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, we would like to thank our sponsor, Robert Bussell, Ph.D., for his enthusiasm and support throughout the development of this project. His knowledge of the MRI scanner proved invaluable in creating a usable prototype that works in this unique environment. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with him.

We would also like to thank Mark Steinborn at the Center for Functional MRI for his expertise in machining equipment for the Center. He provided the mock bore and quickly fabricated the mock tooling for testing and demonstration.

Special thanks are given to Catarina Perixoto at the Young Engineers’ Support Program from igus® for providing us with the glass ball bearings quickly and at no cost. Likewise, Andrea from Torque Transmissions generously donated the two timing pulleys that were used in the drive system.

Many of the faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering here at UC San Diego provided valuable assistance or advice. Thanks are due to all of them, some whom are mentioned here.

• • Dr. Nathan Delson and Pedro Navarro for their guidance in computing critical motor and bearing analyses, and critiques for improving the prototype design.

  • Steve Roberts for his assistance in stepper motor drivers, printed circuit boards, and particularly with fiber optic communication.

  • Chris Cassidy for his valued advice and resources.

  • Thomas Chalfant and Ian Richardson, who was instrumental in the design and fabrication of the carriage and t-slotted aluminum profile. The success of our wheels is dedicated to them.

  • And finally J.V. Agnew for processing a majority of our orders and being patient with our repeated inquiries of “did it come in yet?”, as well as Don Johnson of the Campus Research Machine Shop for the incredible turnover in ordering from McMaster-Carr and his assistance in obtaining nonmagnetic screws.