I just completed my latest and greatest project with my group so far, I helped to complete a machine that will sort different types of marbles due to light sensitivity. While my team constructed the bulk of the machine, I managed to help create key components that made the machine possible to function. I managed to help out my teammates at least three times with making the system possible.
The first was with the pioneering of the modern pneumatics. Pneumatics is the use of air pressure in order to move pistons and activate machinery. While my team was building the structure of the machine, I explored the realm of pneumatics because I realized that if I can get a functioning system with it then I can use air pressure to help my team achieve the goal of success. Using experimentation with channeling air pressure through tubes and pistons and advice from my teacher, I eventually created a working system with pneumatics that would eventually be used throughout the class. I basically created a motor powered rotor that would turn a crank and then create air pressure in a fast moving piston. The air pressure would then travel through a tube towards a containment tank, and then it would travel through a couple more tubes and would get funneled into two air blockers. Using electricity, these air blockers would create a detour for the pressure, and would force it through an alternate intersecting tube that would channel the air pressure to a couple of pistons. Using a computer program allowed the piston to move upward and downward due to air pressure and a timer.
The second was creating containers for the marbles to fall into once the light sorted the marble out. I brainstormed several creations that can be attached to the main machine for the different types of marbles. I managed to build containers for three of the five marbles (the last two were made by my teammates). I would work on one container at a time in order to ensure my thoughts stayed organized while I was building. First I would build a support structure/pathway that would extend from the main machine to the container. Then I would build the actual container, which is basically a box shaped container with walls preventing marbles from leaving the container once they entered. Finally I would try to anchor the container to the pathway and another part of the machine to ensure stability. After a few tests to ensure that the container works, I would rinse and repeat for the remaining two containers.
The third was the creation of the funnel that would channel the falling marbles into a straight line towards the machine in order to get sorted. I had to do a little bit of hard thinking and brainstorming with this one. Once I figured out that I could use any type of material for the funnel, I would grab some paper, wrap them into a funnel and vertical tube shape, and use tape to hold the paper together. I then tried to attach it to a fishertechnik funnel in order to connect the whole funnel to the machine and to sort the marbles effectively. The problem was that it took me a while until I managed to find the best design for the funnel. It ended up with a 3x3 fishertechnik vertical tower with space in the middle of the pillars, and a long, narrow funnel with a large opening at the top and being contained by the surrounding pillars. I also finally put a small ramp at the bottom of the funnel in order to ensure that the marbles wouldn't clog up the funnel when going downward and out.
Although it would look like I did the least to make the project work as a whole, the lack of my assistance with my three creations/designs would not make the effective machine that it is now. This was probably my latest and greatest project that I have yet to work on.
Here are a few pictures of the whole completed project:
These pictures were made possible by my teammate, Putnam
