Updates from the Week of Nov 2

This week we finished all the engineering for the MCM since it was due on Friday. Our MCM consists of the five column hopper and the scissor arm linkages. This week we decreased the height of the scissor arm linkages so that we were able to add height to hopper columns. The added height allows each column to hold nine balls, this way we can pick up all of our balls and some of our opponent's balls. For the engineering of the MCM, we had to figure out which materials we were going to use. The scissor arm links and the hopper top will be made out of acrylic since it is light and strong, this will also be easy to cut out on the laser cutter. We are using the welding rods for the columns since they are thin and will bend a little allowing the balls to move around within the structure and they won't break if they have a slight impact on the bottom of the slot. Torsion springs that we ordered from McMaster will be at the bottom of each column holding up the balls attached to the columns by horizontal welding rod. We are using pins to link all the scissor arms together (hopefully using caps to constrain them, if not eclips). The scissor arm base will be made out of the square tube stock using the mill.

We also decided to work in the machine shop on Monday to use the laser cutter for the scissor arms and hopper top. We will hopefully have enough time to use the bandsaw to cut the pins as well.

Next week we will hopefully finish all the engineering for the rest of our machine and revamp our schedule. We now realize that some of our timetables cannot be met given the time and machines available in the machine shop, especially since 250 is not allowed to use the mill at all next week. We hope to have most of the manufacturing for our MCM done this week as well.