156B Week 4

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

• • Over the last week we caught up with Collins about a few details of the project. We got some details about dimensions that we previously didn't have, discussed the scope of the work we're expected to perform, etc.

  • We finished the brainstorming phase of design and are now on the analysis phase. FEA is being run on preliminary solid structures to prove that our hand-calculations are correct.

  • Soon thereafter, on Tuesday, we're expecting to start analyzing the honeycomb structure we downselected from the original top 10 designs.

  • A few size configurations of the internal cells of the honeycomb will be tested, and the one that shows the best deflection/stress to material used ratio will be the one we'll proceed with.

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• • We started FEA, we've gotten more size/weight constraints, and we downselected aluminum and bonding as primary manufacturing choices (however, applying those to our design won't be a priority until the analysis and preliminary testing are done).

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

• • Our main goal for next week is to, after running all the FEA and knowing what to expect from a real-life three-point bending test, order parts using our manufacturability matrix (attached below).

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

• • Mr. Schrell and Mr. Lopez are on board with the progress we've made. Their main input over last week was the consolidation of two manufacturability matrices the team had already worked on, making it one single matrix with evaluations for materials, processes, and counting every team member and sponsor's opinions/research (though the team's values were weighed 4 times less than Alberto's and Johann's, for their larger industry know-how).

  • Alberto's and Johann's main suggestion moving forward is that we really focus on finding the best design through FEA now, then focus on getting the materials and running real-life tests. They mentioned the FEA results might surprise us (in terms of what design is best).

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

• • "I'm sure manufacturability will play a large role in your project. We just need to hear back from them about it" was one of the things brought up. Initially we weren't considering DFM, and that is why our dimensions were off and a few features were missing. Over the last weekend we got a few more dimensions from Collins and applied them to our design.

  • FEA was mentioned as something we should be doing. We started doing it.

  • We discussed the importance of applying the door curvature to our design at this time. We realized it's not that big a deal if we run simulations with a flat door as of right now.

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

Risks and Areas of Concern

• • Our project is doing well time-wise now that we caught up with Collins. One risk area could be the timeliness of the delivery of the parts we intend on ordering a week from now.

Resources or Information Required but not Available

Schedule

• • Over the next week we intend on doing all of the FEA we need to do prior to ordering parts. Other FEA can continue occurring after we already ordered them, but the important FEA (that will affect design decisions) should take place now.

  • The Gantt Chart has been updated.

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

• • No money has been spent.

Progress on Report and Webpage

• • Our report has been updated consistently.