User:CWill32/enes100/project2/individual

''This is designed for a person working on a project for 4 weeks as part of a 3 credit class. Please copy this form to your user page. Then delete everything in italics when filling out this form.''

Write problem/project Goal
What is your wording of the overall problem/project goal?

The goal of the project is to continue on the last teams progress and move towards completing the design and build of the Rube Goldberg Project in the attempt to display the finished product at Engineering Week Spring 2013.

My First Task
What are you going to do for the team this first weekend?

Resarch materials to build a ramp for the pinballs to travel up into the pvc pipe mechanism already designed and partially built. Possibley purchase more materials to build contraption consisting of the pinball mechanisms.

Summary of actual work over first weekend
How is what you did different than what you planned?

I drafted a prototype drawing for the pinball mechanism on drafting paper which will be uploaded later. I have gathered materials needed for the construction of the prototype. I also have materials to connect the mechanism with the pre-existing pvc pipe structure.

Week1 Narrative
Tell a detailed story describing what you did for your team over the weekend.

I gathered my materials based off my design. I have not attempted to construct the ramp made of steel, but will attempt to solder or braze the steel together so that the inside trackt that the pinball will travel up into the pvc pipe structure. I have bracing material that will support the ramp as it travels to the pipe. The basic design of the ramp will have 4-6 1/8" steel rods soldered together in a fashion so as to provide the pinball a path to smoothly travel after being launched by the plunger. The path will transition into the pipes already placed into the structure. I have drafted a preliminary design based on conventional pinball ramps. With only slight turns that should minimalize complexity.



As for soldering I am not entirely sure what method to use in order to ensure the bonds hold. I found a page here, http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=Solders_and_Flux&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053 that describes a good method of selecting your materials according to the job you are performing. I am also not sure whether soldering or brazing is the best option, thus I will try soldering first. If that fails and all steps were performed right, I will attempt to braze the steel rods together.

My Second Task
Record what you are planning on doing for the team during the second weekend.

For the second week I plan on constructing the plunger and pinball ramp apparatus so that it is operational. I will attempt to also draft the apparatus in Google Sketchup, but will include my paper draft on the site as well. If the design is successful, I will duplicate my design on the opposite side to allow the other pinball to travel up into the pvc structure. I will need to design a way for the single plunger to simultaneously strike both pinballs with the same force so that they travel at the same speed and arrive at the same time in the pvc structure ready to begin the next phase of the rube goldberg.

Summary of actual work over second weekend
How is what you did different than what you planned?

This week was more design related than construction related. I had wished to begin the construction phase of my level.

Week2 Narrative
Tell a detailed story describing what you did for your team over the weekend.

I have gathered the materials required to build a working prototype of my level in the Rube Goldberg machine. I had planned on soldering or brazing the steel rods together to make the track for the pinballs. The steel rods may have to be welded as the joining process does not seem to be working. If I can't get them to stay together, I will have to find a welder, which may present a problem all it's own. I am not sure which type of welding may need to be done and locating a welder will be difficult. I am also not trained or knowledgable in welding technique. If my last ditch efforts are unsuccessful, then I may have to find a different material altogether to design my pinball ramps. This development may also force me to go in a different direction and change my design itself. I will complete further testing with the materials I have and the equipment available.

My Third task
Record what you are planning on doing for the team during the third weekend.

For the third week I plan on getting the structure built for my ramp and testing the stability and rigidity of the materials under load. I also am working on a design for the pinball plunger splitting mechanism. I want to use one plunger to power both balls up their separate respectable ramps in unison. I have started a design in sketchup and it is ongoing. I will try to finish the design and post it and build if possible.

Summary of actual work over third weekend
How is what you did different than what you planned?

I wanted to construct more objects within the actual structure, but spent the majority of my time designing new elements and refining old ones.

Week3 Narrative
Tell a detailed story describing what you did for your team over the weekend.

Over the weekend I decided to experiment with some welding or soldering techniques with the metal rods I plan on using in the construction of the ramp that leads up to the pvc pipe in which the pinballs will drop. I brazed a small piece together with another, but I don't know if the tensile strength is going to hold up to the force of the balls travelling through the ramp. Further experimentation will be needed. I skavenged the house to see if there were any materials that I could use that would be able to be used on the project.

This is a spring that I designed in GoogleSketchup I have the concept here, but I want to modify it so that it will be able to propel both balls at the same time.

My Fourth task
''Record what you are planning on doing for the team during the final weekend of project work. ''

This week I am going to try to have my brazed metal ramp ready for experimentation stages. I will also be constructing parts of the other levels in conjunction with my team members.

Summary of actual work over fourth weekend
How is what you did different than what you planned?

This week I built two ramps of wood and glue that allow the balls to travel to their next designated destinations. I also installed a swinging chime, a rubber tube to guide the balls attached to the outlet of the PVC pipe from the 1st level.

Week4 Narrative
Tell a detailed story describing what you did for your team over the weekend.

I attached a 2" PVC pipe to the underside of the pvc coming down from the 1st level. On this piece I attached a rubber inner tube that directs the first ball onto the first ramp.

I constructed one ramp out of balsa wood and hot glue. the sides were designed to travel up past the ramp floor in order to keep the balls from falling off. I also dremelled a small divot in the top of the ramp to help the ball stay in place until its time to move.

I cut some pre-constructed wood into a ramp that contained a wide groove running down the middle which also held the purpose of holding the ball in place as it travelled down the ramp.

I attached a metal chime at a point plum with the center point between the end of ramp one and the beginning of ramp two. The end rested on ramp one so that when the ball travels down the ramp it hits the chime and then the chime swings around and comes into contact with the ball on top of ramp two.

Experiments were conducted so that the balls rolled down the ramps. I moved them around so that the 2nd ball travelled to a hole cut into the second level.

Complete Team Page
Fill out the Team Form (should have already copied the form, created the team page, linked to it and started filling it out).