156B Week 2

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

• Finalizing frame design after updating and improving our MATLAB simulation for magnetic field density.

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• Created an application that makes it easier to modify system parameters and visualize results.

• Tesla meter was received and has been used to conduct experimentation on the team's existing solenoids.

  • Simulations without iron core appear to be pretty accurate.

  • Simulations utilizing the iron cores appear to be flawed.

• Created two new frame design variants since last week. Discussed the pros and cons as a team and chose design aspects that were most advantageous to the project's goals.

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

• Meet with Steve Roberts on Friday (1/15/21) to discuss improvements and safety precautions to the team's design. (Entire Team)

• Conduct more research and testing to determine feasible magnetic field density of electromagnet.

• Create alternate solenoid designs.

• Update frame design to improve structural stability.

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

• Liked the application developed for interacting with the simulation (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Minimize solenoid width to maximize working area (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Mentioned that current may be too small to produce an appreciable amount of magnetic field density (1/13/21 over zoom).

  • Meeting with Steve Roberts on Friday 1/15/21 to discuss solutions to this problem.

• Team does not need to purchase a power supply if one is available to be borrowed (1/13/21 over zoom).

  • Cai group has power supplies available for after the project is completed that are not available to be borrowed in the meantime.

• Sponsor liked the team's updated design using T bars but raised concerns over properly securing the iron core (1/13/21 over zoom).

  • Sponsor said that it is alright if the frame costs a couple hundred dollars (1/13/21 over zoom).

  • Include additional slots on the base plate to make the design more reconfigurable (1/13/21 over zoom).

  • Recommended using abacus to test stress concentrations (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor said that is alright if the team goes over budget by a little (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor said that the team's print design would not be an issue if the team decides to utilize that design (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor confirmed that it is alright if the controller is on the outside of the frame (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor said that John's frame design is more complex than Everbrook's but that John's design is more stable (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor wants the project to remain three dimensional (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor wants the final project to have 5% homogeneity but 20% homogeneity is acceptable (1/13/21 over zoom).

  • Sponsor said that radial homogeneity is not as important as axial homogeneity (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor emphasized the importance of a modular frame design so that the working space can be adjustable (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor says that it is alright if we don't conduct the Comsol simulations but that it would be helpful if the team does the simulations (1/13/21 over zoom).

• Sponsor said that it is alright if we do not achieve 1 Tesla but that we should still aim for producing 1 Tesla (1/13/21 over zoom).

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

• Team discussed gaining access to materials and manufacturing techniques with the instructional team (1/7/21 over zoom).

• Spoke with Tom about meeting with him to discuss manufacturing feasibility (1/7/21 over zoom).

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

• Not applicable for this week.

Risks and Areas of Concern

• Electric discharge

• Strong magnetic fields

• Improperly constrained Helmholtz coils could harm bystanders if they fall off the test bench.

• Project budget is relatively small so team needs to use resources efficiently.

Resources or Information Required but not Available

Schedule

• • Describe upcoming milestone

  • Update Gantt chart.

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

• Team has used $130.49 of their original budget which leaves $369.51 of budget remaining.

Progress on Report and Webpage

• Updated webpage weekly report and budget.