Update- MCM

Last week we finished the most critical module for our machine. The module includes a door that will be used to capture balls, four pillow blocks, four bearings that press fit into the pillow blocks, two shafts that connect the door to a motor, and a base plate that connects the module to the frame of the bot. We cut the door, which is made from delrin, using the laser cutter. The laser cutter was also used to shape the acrylic base plate. The pillow blocks and shafts are made from aluminum and were shaped with the bandsaw and mill. This week we will finish assembling the frame of our bot.

Many parts of this module were machined with low tolerances, so that they would align correctly. For example the hole in the pillow block should have been reamed, so that the bearing would press fit into it. Also the shaft had to be the correct diameter, so that it would press fit into the bearings.

Here is a link to the updated team schedule: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AglbbLMb_1RRdFA0TGxPU2VZTTNsdjB5emdPaUpONnc&hl=en&single=true&gid=0&output=html

Update- Machining

This week our team starting machining. On Monday we used the water jet to cut out rectangular pieces that will be assembled to create the frame of our bot. We used a .25" thick aluminum plate. This differs from our original plan to use a .5" thick plate. A large enough .5" thick plate was not available to us and the thinner plate will allow the bot to be lighter and move faster. Aluminum is a good material to use for our frame because it is strong and less dense than other metals such as steel.

On Thursday we used the mill to drill holes in the pieces that we cut out. Also we used the saw to cut the angle stock into smaller pieces. These pieces will be used as pillow blocks. Today we will use the mill to drill the holes in the pillow blocks.

-Tri-State Warriors

New Door Update

After completing the motor lab and having heard all the lectures our team decided that the most simple approach to lifting our door is to make it as light as possible and connecting it directly to the double gearbox motor. Tomorrow we plan to have our solid model 85 - 100% complete, and as we review for our Exam we will also use that opportunity to ensure that we applied all of the fundamental design principles to our bot. Manufacturing will begin early next week as well. Our new design is illustrated in the images below. Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions.

Thanks,
Tri-State Warriors

UPDATE

Hello, we been discussing the most effective method of execution with respect to our Most Critical Module. We have decided to implement a rack and pinion design. As we continue to work on our MS6 homework assignment we are making final decisions as to materials and dimensions.

We discussed the Bill of Materials and Manufacturing Plan. This allowed us to pick and choose specific parts and materials that will be utilized for our design. By completing this assignment we were able to gain a better understanding of what our design will simulate.

-Tri-State Warriors

Tri-State Warriors' Team Schedule

Please go to goo.gl/ExQy to view our team's schedule from now until the competition!

Welcome to the ME250 Tri-State Warriors' Blog

Hello, and thank you for visiting our team blog. Please visit us at least once a week so that you can follow our progress through our weekly postings. Our team is excited about having the opportunity to compete with other students in the Slotbots II competition during the Fall 2010 Semester at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.  Our team has done a lot of planning and brainstorming as we have tried to develop a strategy and concept that will ultimately lead to victory in the tournament.

Our strategy is focused around playing on the table-top. Our team chose to go in this direction because by doing so we can essentially gather more mass on one-half of the table than an opposing team can obtain by playing the slot.  Furthermore, a Pugh Chart analysis with two other strategies verified that playing on the table-top was found to be our best option.  And so the challenge of choosing a concept began

For the concept we tried to model our ideas after real world applications that are used to perform task similar to what we need to do in the arena; a few examples of such are the Hungry Hungry Hippo Game, golf ball collectors at the driving range, etc. and the following are what we decided to use.  Our team designed a car that captures balls on top of the table and pushes them to the funnel.  Our machine has a door that drops to trap balls in the machine housing.  Using a door allows us to get balls on edges without the risk of them falling over the edge of the arena.  Also our car moves with treads instead of wheels so that we can effectively turn on the field and overcome obstacles. 

For your convenience we have uploaded three photos of our preliminary machine concept.  The first two pictures show the up and down positions of our door, and the last is an exploded view of our assembly. Please feel free to leave us comments or suggestions.

Thanks,

Tri-State Warriors