156B Week 1

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

• • The screw hopper mechanism for spice and tea dispensing is being designed, looking for off-the-shelf components to use

  • The Gate valve design for milk dispensing is completed, need to find off-the-shelf components that fit the requirements, or 3D print them.

  • A vacuum pump has been selected and purchased as an alternate spice dispensing mechanism, its volume flow rate, and its vacuum pressure were calculated and measured. The pump was tested at non operational environment and it delivers powder more test is needed for operational conditions. Analysis of the screw delivery is completed.

  • Spice Container for delivering spices to the air pump has been designed.

  • A spice characterization test was conducted to observe behavior of the spice with steam, and wet tube surfaces (washed but not dried).   

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• • Spice Container is designed to use the vibration of the pump to liquefy the spice flow.

  • Gate valve design is completed.

  • Vacuum pressure of the pump was measured. the proper range of frequencies to dispense spices was measured.

  • Obtained volumes of spices, tea, and milk required for the machine.

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

• • Develop method to limit humidity impact on powdered spices from steam from kettle (Shahin)

  • Test the motor with the moist spices and tea granules (Ian)

  • 3D print spice container, screw, pump,  and gate valve(Everyone)

  • Find and order components for gate valve (Arun)

  • Continue working on the non gravitationally motivated delivery method for liquids, verifying calculations that determine whether we need forced flow (Soo)

  • Design mounts such that minimum vibrations would be delivered to the main frame (Everyone)

Sponsor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments

• • It is better to use the same mechanism for both spices and tea therefore they don’t need to order two different components

    • Pursuing screw hopper mechanism as main method of spice and tea dispensing

  • Minimize the number of tubes, funnels, nuzzles, anything that requires cleaning

    • This will be addressed later, during system integration step

Risks and Areas of Concern

Resources or Information Required but not Available

Schedule

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

• • amount spent is A = $22

  • amount left is B = $1000 - A

Progress on Report and Webpage

Website is updated. Report has not been started.