2020-05-09 Meeting Minutes - Science

Owned by
Ethan Cronier
Last updated: Aug 17, 2021
2 min read

Saturday May 9, 2020 9:00PM - 10:15PM EST

Next Meeting: Saturday May 23, 2020 9:00PM - 10:15PM EST

Attendance:

Lance Bantoto (3B Tron)

David Choi (2A Mech)

Alaina Hansen (2A Tron)

Christopher Arjune (2A ECE)

Asha Mills Emmett (2A Tron)

Emily Adam (1A Tron)

Wolfgang Windholtz (2A ECE) (note taker)

Subtasks:

Alaina Hansen - Attach belt to elevator 

Emily Adam - Motors and sealing mechanism redesign

Asha Mills Emmett - sealing mechanism redesign

David Choi - Shovel mechanism redesign

Wolfgang Windholtz - Motors

Action Items:

  • Torque/speed calculations, gearbox reduction ratios for the 2 motors - Asha
  • Lance, Emily, Wolfgang set up meeting to pick motors 

Meeting Minutes:

  • Introduction of science task by Asha
    • Soil sights
    • Soul retrieval and tests
  • Showed cad of current mechanism and explained it
    • Shovel to retrieve soil sample 
    • Drops dirt in 6 different test tubes
    • Spins test tubes
    • Geneva drive to turn centrifuge accurately
    • Motor that drives the shovel is cantilevered
    • Motor for elevator does not have an encoder
    • One encoder for indexing mechanism/motor
    • Servos all have encoders
    • Shovel has 2 limit switches instead of encoder, one on top one on bottom
    • Two limit switches on the bottom for centrifuge rotation
  • Error in initial design
    • A piece of metal can't go through another piece of metal
    • Difficulty assembly due to attaching the belt on to the frame
  • Discussed errors and what parts worked well
    • Worked well
      • Geneva
    • Difficulties
      • Lifting sealing mechanism
        • Reduce moment arm 
  • Discussed solutions and project allocation

Science mechanism improvements:

  • Hooks for lifting seal cause binding because they only lift from one side
    • Moment created
  • Elevator currently doesn’t go down all the way (due to CAD oversight)
  • Sealing mechanism not tested rigorously enough
  • Shovel being redesigned to be two claws (David Choi)
    • How many motors?
  • Indexing limit switches are kinda sketchy (but may be due to print quality)
  • Elevator limit switches don’t always contact properly
  • Elevator CF spring might not be necessary?
  • Chain tensioning needs to be fixed 
  • Probably want to switch 12V motors to 24V and/or brushless