Mechanisms
Mechanisms
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In this project, we intended to replicate a mechanism, mechanism 157, from 507 Mechanical Movements using cardboard and other materials. We first created a rudimentary prototype before laser cutting a high fidelity model.
In this project, we intended to replicate a mechanism, mechanism 157, from 507 Mechanical Movements using cardboard and other materials. We first created a rudimentary prototype before laser cutting a high fidelity model.
Project Topic
For this project, we chose Mechanism 157, which is a circle that rotates around its center that is attached to an arm. This arm is attached to an L-shaped block on its other side, which moves around a fixed point at its corner, and is attached to another arm that is moved up and down by this mechanism.
Prototype Construction
This prototype is constructed primarily with cardboard and tape. The circle is fastened with a brad and so are the connecting cardboard strips. The L-shaped cardboard is reinforced with popsicle sticks to prevent bending, and the longer dangling cardboard strip is constrained by a slit in the cardboard.
PXL_20251024_205154227.mp4Prototype Challenges
We made multiple different prototypes that each had their issues. This is one example of a prototype that had severe issues that we needed to fix in the final design. Here, the L-shape is not long or strong enough to support the movement, and the parts often got caught on the cardboard itself. The main issue in building it was puncturing holes for the brads and making sure that the circle moved smoothly.
AutoCAD
We modeled all of these parts in AutoCAD before sending them to be laser cut. We needed a second laser cut because we failed to realize that our first L-shaped piece was too small.
Video_2.movFinal Mechanism
For our final mechanism, a wooden dowel was used to secure the arm to the disk, and the remainder of the arm was connected through brass fasteners. To ensure that the wooden dowel wouldn’t get caught on the cardboard base, we taped down the hole on the back using duct tape. The hole was then filled with hot glue to secure the wooden dowel in place.
The primary skills I used in this project was AutoCAD modeling and fabrication in creating the prototype.
The primary skills I used in this project was AutoCAD modeling and fabrication in creating the prototype.
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