I learned a whole lot about the design process in ME250. We started by creating a strategy based on the rules and objectives of the game. We then determined how we were going to carry out our strategy. Our machine had to be designed in a way to accomplish specific tasks that matched our chosen strategy. We were able to narrow down our options through the use of Pugh charts, which was a new concept for me. Some requirements of our machine were determined experimentally, such as how to chose a gear ratio for pushing the flipper.
During lecture I learned many things about mechanical components. It was through this that we were able to decide what type of components would suit our machine and its specific tasks the best. Some of the things we learned about were gears, springs, linkages, pulleys, wheels, bearings, shafts, couplings and motors.
We created a model of our machine in CAD. This was entirely new to me. I really appreciated all that SolidWorks had to offer. We could see exactly what our machine would look like before making it. It was also neat to see the parts move together. It was very helpful to be able to easily make drawings for the machine shop from the CAD drawings.
In the machine shop, I learned how to properly end mill and use the lathe. I experienced a laser cutter and water jet for the first time. I also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of feed rates and tool speeds.
When our group began designing our machine, it became apparent that we all had differing skill sets. It was important that we took advantage of these differences. Some of our best and most efficient work came when we were all doing different things to accomplish one goal. One person would suggest an idea, while another did quick calculations and another put it into CAD for us all to see. I was able to learn CAD from my group and in return I taught them what I could about machining.
Time management is was a huge factor of this entire experience. That’s not to say that we were always the most efficient in our use of time. We found it was most useful to plan a time and list of goals for our next meeting. We could then immediately get to work when the time came. Sometimes, however, we did not plan so well. If there was a two-person job to be accomplished and all four of us were present, then it was a wasteful for the two people with nothing to do.
If I was to go through this entire experience again, I would put most of my efforts into improving our use of time. There were too many nights spent on the computer when we just sat around, discussing possibilities without really making any progress. I would try to make better plans and drawings before going into the shop to be more efficient. Some of our problems arose from engineering/designing while in the shop. I realize this is not good practice, but we faced a time crunch and a crisis that had to be solved.
There were a few things about this class to could be improved upon. I found it difficult to always know what had to be done next and by what time. Although all the information was available, I didn’t always know where to look for it. This was a problem when I realized at the last minute that I had an assignment to do. This could be a problem of my own, but perhaps the information could be organized a bit better. Our group found it extremely difficult to get mill time in the shop, and we were often forced to work in the autolab instead. While this was a good place to work, it was inconvenient at times. When we were finishing our machine and aligning its components, we tested it on one of the arenas. We then participated in the seeding round on another arena. This arena was slightly different and resulted in a misalignment on our machine. Because of this, we were unable to score at all. I was very frustrated to say the least. I had expected the arenas to be consistent. It was only a small difference, but it was enough to greatly affect our performance.
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