The Chosen Ones: Week 3

Today we will show our finalized MCM to our GSI for MS8 assignment. It was a hazard week, since we had to modify our drawings and re-measure parts. However, we did manage to finalize our MCM.

For our winch system, we did manage to find a way to attach to the ramp. We were initially going to put our winch system on our base plate at the front, but it was too large. We used the laser cutter to cut out the plywood to make a base for the winch system. The base for the winch system was put at the top of the two left bars, and it was attached by using two L-blocks at each side. We tightened it by using bolts and nuts. For the shaft that connects the motor, we made a groove in the middle and tied a knot of kevlar thread and attached it to the pressfit bars.

For the dropping mechanism for the arm, we used the kevlar thread and the electrical tape to attach the arm and the pressfit. What we were aiming for was that when the motor pulls the arm, the tape and the thread will drop and the arm will drop accordingly. However, that mechanism did not work, so we need to find another mechanism to drop the arm before the slotbot is due.

After finalizing the design and mechanism, we assembled all the parts by using bolts, washers, and nuts.
Our MCM does function, but the arm pulled by the motor is really slow, however we need the gear ratio 400:1. Therefore, we will probably stick with the gear ratio we have right now.

Also for the MS8, we had to finalize our design of our other modules, the flipper and the car. For the car, we decided to have a M-shaped clamp of plywood that could be attached at the front. This will help collect the balls easier and push them. The car will have four wheels, run by double-gear motor, and L-blocks to make the wheel shafts secure.

For the flipper, we designed it so that the arm drops vertically and opens the switch. It will be run by the planetary gear motor and the rack and pinion system. The arm is going to be in aluminum so it has enough weight and force to open the switch.

We may need to make few modifications in the future before we machine our parts, and we need to trade with the GSI in order to get components we need in extra.

Here are some pictures.

The dropping arm.