Project Objectives
High Priority Objectives
Design a rotational device carrying the transducer to travel around the sample at an optimized frequency and velocity and a gantry-shaped supporting structure for the over-hang LED arrays, (Important notes and challenges: both of the LED array and the transducer have to be submerged by water) which includes:
A Rotational water tank with a water-tight attachment to a transducer
A gantry supporting an overhang LED submerged in the water tank
A solid supporting table that connects every component and form a complete system
Second Priority Objectives
Design a “delta-z” vertically traveling supporting deck sending the tested sample up or down by increments to transform the 2D scan into a 3D tomography, which includes:
A vertically adjustable sample plate
A control system relating together the LED excitation rate, the tank rotational speed and the sample plate height.
Other Constraints and Issues
The whole system should have no water leakage during operation
The tank bottom has to be built with elastic material (kitchen wrap etc.)
The tank wall must be built with non-metallic material
Risk Reduction Strategy
Friction torque between the tank and the supporting table vs. the motor torque and the gear ratio of the drive train
Calculate the theoretical friction torque at the contact points and the stall torque of the drive train
Build a prototype of the system and see the actual friction
Test and examine whether o'rings are sufficient to prevent water leakage and connection point
Intermediate Milestones
156A Week 8: Fully understand the background and big picture of this design; comprehend the mechanics of LED-PACT
156A Week 9: Come up with preliminary design; discuss with sponsor; finalize the design and the dimension; validate the feasibility of production
156A Week 10: Risk reduction and component analysis; prototyping