156B Week 3

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

• Awaiting delivery of Injection machine, pending location to store the machine or a decision to split the machine up

• Each team member focusing on a key area of the injection machine to optimize 

• 3D model of the system is currently being designed on Autodesk Fusion 360

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• Reconnected with sponsors regarding class redefinition presentation, got feedback on project goals moving forward. 

• Met with Professor Delson to give project updates and asked for advice about project decisions and methodology.  

• Brian connected with Andrew on the mold injection pressure required.

• Kaleb connected with Steve Roberts and OMEGA about temperature sensing. 

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

• Discuss Pareto chart with sponsors to finalize design decisions on components 

• Ideate on the problem spaces we defined with the sponsor from last week and make comparisons using Pareto chart 

  • 3D Printed Molds and Mold Cage (Brian): Look into mold-nozzle quick release systems. Compare the commercial viability (extra machine cost) and look into for force transducer.

  • Nozzle (James): Explore cauldron of melted plastic idea. Plastic simulation (thermal) and barrel simulation (strength analysis). Create a 3D CAD of the system (in collaboration with Katherine) in Fusion 360, then export to ANSYS to create a 'digital twin'

  • Injection Effort (Katherine): Explore solutions to reduce the pull down effort of the lever arm by replacing the component with a scissor jack. 

  • PID Control and Measurements (Kaleb): Look into low cost sensor options and determine how the sensor should be embedded, and how the wiring is done.

• Conduct research on the industrial injection molding process to see if any of those things can be adapter to our small scale machine. (team) 

• Explore variations of precious plastic injection machine done by the precious plastic community. 

• Complete presentation for Week 4 

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

Notes from continuous Slack communication:

• Mark Hansen - Linear actuator would be too slow, alternatives to consider: Hydraulic, Pneumatic, Rack/Pinion, Linear Actuators, Scissor Jack, Automated Lever Puller

  • Compared options and determined scissor jack to be the best option for our application. 

• Andrew Krause - Suggestion to define an array of widgets and corresponding value.

  • We created a Pareto chart and will update it regularly

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

Notes from the previous meeting with Professor Delson: 

• • Discussed heat transfer analysis, would like to see hand analysis to validate barrel simulations. Complicated BCs make software necessary.

    • Hand analysis already done using Fourier’s Law of conduction, will share with the group during next meeting.

    • Comparing simulation with data shared with Mark to confirm the model.

  • Discussed temperature measurement, contact Steve Roberts and Omega.

    • Contacted Steve Roberts about “optical fiber”

    • Contacted OMEGA about temperature sensing.

  • Discussed the mold cage.

    • Currently preliminary, unable for Ryan to make the cage.

  • Discussed Linear actuator, electric actuator is a “middle ground” between hydraulic actuation and lever actuator. Check metrics (force, speed, stroke)

    • Created comparison table of lever alternatives to compare metrics and determined scissor jack to be the best fitting option.

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

• Delivery of Injection machine further delayed

Resources or Information Required but not Available

• N/A

Schedule

• Weekly Meeting with Sponsors (4/15/20)

• Weekly Internal Team Meetings (3 times a week)

• Weekly Meeting with Prof. Delson (4/17/20) 

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

• Total Budget: $2600

• Amount Spent: $120

• Budget Remaining: $2480

Progress on Report and Webpage

• Week 3 Updated

• Problem Redefinition updated