This week has been all about getting prepared for the presentations. We spent a majority of our class time on Wednesday creating an outline for the presentation. It has been asked that the presentation is done in evidence-assertion method, which is newer for our group. We researched the previous year's work to get a better understanding of what we should be presenting.
We did meet up outside of class as a group several times this week. All of which was to get ready for the presentation. We studied the rubric and further refined the outline to bring it more to a presentation format. Before we had the questions clearly defined, then we started to come up with some vague answers. These answers have been better understood by each member of the group so we can strongly present our ideas and intentions.
After our presentations, the group plans to focus on drawing CAD models and detailed designs. Everyone in the group will be working on the designs until completed. Once the designs are done, we plan to repair the existing track and test out some of the new design implementations. We have given ourselves a direction for the semester and for the year. How we plan to get there had some debate, but I conceded my ideas so that we as a group will be working together more. Both as a team, and on our tasks.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
September 14
Last week, I went to the design center early and started messing with the assembly of the track. There were numerous things I learned. There were a number of things the track had already completed that were good designs. There were some issues that needed to be addressed and re-designed. There were also things I believed to be issues, but were actually able to be fixed with just a few tools.
Things that I found that were relatively flawless were that the vertical supports were a simple, working design. They were redesigned last year and I see no reason that they need to be designed again. I put a mechanical bogie on the Eastern side of the track and found that were not many alignment issues. The Eastern Loop is functional. The support brackets are adjustable as well. I found that feature to be helpful in resolving numerous alignment issues.
The alignment was one of the major problems our group first found. As I was deconstructing the track, I found that their already exists a method to adjust the alignment. This is very helpful as it means less things to be re-designed.
The track did have a number of problems that would need maintenance or re-designed. All the screws are either stripped or bent. All of them will need replacement. The locations where the bogie rides on two tracks as it is switching is also an issue. If it is not aligned properly, the bogie will either get stuck or fall. To address this issue I drew a full bracket to increase rigidity. This design is still being discussed.
Things that I found that were relatively flawless were that the vertical supports were a simple, working design. They were redesigned last year and I see no reason that they need to be designed again. I put a mechanical bogie on the Eastern side of the track and found that were not many alignment issues. The Eastern Loop is functional. The support brackets are adjustable as well. I found that feature to be helpful in resolving numerous alignment issues.
The alignment was one of the major problems our group first found. As I was deconstructing the track, I found that their already exists a method to adjust the alignment. This is very helpful as it means less things to be re-designed.
The track did have a number of problems that would need maintenance or re-designed. All the screws are either stripped or bent. All of them will need replacement. The locations where the bogie rides on two tracks as it is switching is also an issue. If it is not aligned properly, the bogie will either get stuck or fall. To address this issue I drew a full bracket to increase rigidity. This design is still being discussed.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Week 3
Last week we started to get a better idea of what we would like to accomplish. We talked with Eric to figure out what our responsibilities are. As a group we decided the main priority is getting something to work.
As a result we believe fixing the corners and making the track level is the priority. We know that we would want to make the track more modular, and we plan to do that by making the single loop more symmetrical. The mounting brackets are also a problem as they do not completely secure the track together. We plan to put a small plate on the opposite side of the bracket to make it more secure, however we may need to redesign the brackets.
We can tell the center of the constructed track was built with immense care and do not plan to mess with that part of the track. We also considered making the track have an elevation change for the pick-up/drop-off locations. Due to possible manufacturing complications, and issues it may give the other teams, we decided not to.
As a result we believe fixing the corners and making the track level is the priority. We know that we would want to make the track more modular, and we plan to do that by making the single loop more symmetrical. The mounting brackets are also a problem as they do not completely secure the track together. We plan to put a small plate on the opposite side of the bracket to make it more secure, however we may need to redesign the brackets.
We can tell the center of the constructed track was built with immense care and do not plan to mess with that part of the track. We also considered making the track have an elevation change for the pick-up/drop-off locations. Due to possible manufacturing complications, and issues it may give the other teams, we decided not to.
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