156B Week 8

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

• • We have changed our final design to a single crank arm in the middle as opposed to having two crank arms at each end (our previous design

  • we have incorporated a stepper motor and optical IR sensor in our

  • we have received all of our shipments (power supply, stepper motor controller, teflon, etc.)

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• • we have placed the stepper motor and optical IR sensor on our mechanism

  • we have changed the long shaft (power transmission) to a coupler and a short shaft with a support bearing

  • we have attached at fastened all the necessary gadgets and components to our mechanism (telephone cables, wire clips, accelerometer)

  • the MATLAB GUI is almost complete:  has two options for different types of trials, it saves the data as vectors with dynamic file names, it gives the user the ability to input all the parameters necessary

  • the arduino coding is seeing desirable process

  • Slider crank analysis for torque and acceleration

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

• • to mount our mechanism on a new base plate (Mark)

  • to complete the MATLAB coding with the help of our sponsor (shannon)

  • to complete the motor control and optical IR sensor configuration (Roque)

  • fabricate a plate/box to mount all outside components (power supply, arduino, stepper controller) (Chris)

  • work on and complete our draft poster for the poster session (ALL)

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

• • No significant comments, other than that sponsor is willing to help with programming GUI in Matlab (in person, 5/10/12)

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

• • the coupler/bearing was a good way to take away undesired force on the motor shaft

  • methods to fasten the teflon to our rails

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

• • none

Risks and Areas of Concern

• • Taking all components off the "temporary" base plate and re-mounting everything on a clean, new base plate:

    • Will there be alignment issues or i.o.w. can we achieve the same smooth motion as we currently have?

    • Can the locations of the holes drilled on the base plate simply be measured (coordinates),

    • or is it better to place & align components before marking and drilling holes?

  • programming aspect

Resources or Information Required but not Available

• • none

Schedule

• • programming the stepper controller and MATLAB GUI (week 9)

  • fatigue testing of our mechanism (week 9)

  • documentation and reporting (week 9/10)

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

• • spent: $328.84    remaining: $671.16

Progress on Report and Webpage

• • no notable updates