156B Week 2

Overview of Status of Analysis, Design, Fabrication, Tests, etc.

• • Design Proposal Presentation

  • CAD Models for Phantom, XY-Plotter, and Lifting Mechanism complete

  • XY-Plotter ordered and received

  • Phantom design finalized

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• • Completed meeting with instructor

  • Attended first sponsor meeting for the spring quarter

  • All team members completed and published component analysis on webpage

  • Ordered and received the XY Plotter from online retailer (costs mentioned below and in Budget)

Goals for Next Week (list names after each item). Use specific and measurable objectives.

• • Begin fabrication of Phantom

  • Assemble XY Plotter and begin testing movement capabilities

  • Source and order a z-axis lifting mechanism

Sponsor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

• • 4APR2017 (In-person meeting):

    • Defined the role of the Physics PhD student added to project team; clarified expectations for the construction of the 2D Phantom; provided a more in-depth introduction of Compressive Sensing.

    • Reiterated need for emphasis to be placed on 3D/XYZ Plotter and on 2D Phantom: attenuating screen is subject to change. Team thus decided to go forth with purchase of XY plotter and start considering lift options.

    • Stated that radiation attenuation only occurs when attenuating materials are located between the radioactive "pen"/point source and the camera sensors. This led the Team to considering having the "pen" point up and the camera turned upside down. This would simplify the construction of the 3D Plotter.

    • Stressed that the project could be subject to simplifications depending on the imposed timeline. Also, difficulties in solving complex equations (with a large number of unknowns) would restrict the plotter's cubic grid.  

Instructor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments  (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

• • 4APR2017 (In-person meeting):

    • Provided comments and pointers relating to end-of-quarter presentation highlighting the need for the Team to simplify its slides and get to the point faster. The Team intends to heed the instructor's advice and apply these to the upcoming presentation.

    • Suggested that the Team consider utilizing a turntable or a single-axis stage (such as a scissor table) to implement the z-axis motion/lifting mechanism: acquire an XY Plotter and a Z-axis system and integrate the two. This prompted the team to search for commercial single-axis table options.

    • Provided ideas to consider (photolitography and etching) to assist with Team's brainstorming for the attenuating screen.

Comments from Other Students in the Class (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

• • N/A

Risks and Areas of Concern

• • Sponsor analysis of attenuating screen pattern must be completed before component can commence. The team has tried to mitigate this by preparing multiple fabrication plans for the possible designs discussed with the sponsor, as well as by preparing a design not yet considered by the sponsor for presentation at this week's meeting.

Resources or Information Required but not Available

• • N/A

Schedule

• • Phantom to be fabricated

  • XYZ Table to be assembled

  • Gantt chart updated.

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

• • MakeBlock XY Plotter Robot Kit - $279.88

Progress on Report and Webpage

• • Completed Individual Component analyses

  • Completed Design Proposal Presentation