Home Stretch

MS 9 was due to today. Our grade didn't exactly live up to our name. Even though we have spent a minimum of two hours in the shop every day for the last four weeks, we just weren't ready to display a functioning machine. A lesson we learned is that the assembly process is never flawless, even when using parts that were machined within specified tolerances. The most disconcerting example of this involved our pinion and rack from the kit. They didn't mesh well together and the result was a stationary rack. In summary, a positive from all of this end of the term craziness is that we've learned some of the basics of machining. However, we wish we had more instruction initially and more time in the shop would've helped with the deadlines at the end of the term. Let's just hope we can get our robot functioning by Wednesday!

Week of Nov. 29 Update

This week we were very busy in the shop. However, our hard work has paid off and we are very close to finishing our slot bot. We have completed most of the major parts for our machine and have only 10 parts left to complete (mostly drilling holes). We are excited to be nearly done with machining and look forward to testing the bot in the arena next week.

Scott soldering wires to motors

Justin waiting to get tools

Updated Schedule and To-do list

Parts to Manufacture:

4x Front axle angle brackets

2x Rear axle supports

2x Front axle

2x Rear axle

Bin (front side, back side, left side)

Ball Collection Arm

Bal Collection arm attachment piece

Bin Door

Bin opener

Motor stand

Rear Rack motor support bracket

Spring steel extensions for shovel

Main body (laser cutter)

Planned Schedule:

November 29: Begin manufacturing non-MCM parts

December 3: Finish manufacturing of all parts, assemble into final slot bot

December 6: Finish assembly for MS-9

December 7: Test final bot on the arena, make any necessary adjustments

December 8: 100% finished with building, assembling, and testing for MS-10

December 9: COMPETITION!!!!

Turkey Day Update

The week leading up to Thanksgiving was a hectic one for the 8th Wonder. This is because MS8 was due yesterday. We had doubts about finishing, but a valiant all night effort and maximizing our time in the shop allowed us to finish 95% of MS8. Our design is really coming along now. We just ordered our last parts today from McMaster-Carr: springs, aluminum bar stock, spacers. Okay, I'm signing off now to eat turkey with family. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

The final design with new ball collection arm.

Close up of new ball collection arm.

Update for Week November 15th

This week we worked in the machine shop to complete MS-7. For our three parts we have chosen the top left and right support brackets, the spacer piece for the shovel attachment and the axle rod for our gears. The three types of machines used in the manufacturing of the three parts were, mill, lathe and band saw. We didn't run into any difficulties manufacturing these three parts, but will need to find a way to increase the pace we manufacture parts if we are going to finish MS-8 by Thanksgiving.

Week of November 8

This week we met twice. Once on Monday to update our rack module and once on Thursday to sign up for shop times and finish the motor lab. In our rack module we changed the bracket design that holds the rack. Instead of having two brackets on each side, we now have one on each side. We also eliminated the lower brackets. Instead of having only a sheet metal casing around the rack, we have two nylon bushings inside the bracket allowing for smoother linear motion. Once we cut the nylon bushings to size, we will need to rub the interior of the bushings with acetone, to make them extra smooth.

The final design for our rack module.

Week of November 1st

During this week we met on Wednesday, Nov 3. from 9pm-1am to work on MS6. We made revisions to our most critical module, created our bill of materials and began work on engineering drawings. We then met on Thursday, Nov. 4 from 10pm-2am to finish the engineering drawings as well as create the manufacturing list.