User:Medelen8/ENES100/Shaker Table Manual Implement

Goals for implementation performance, cost and quality

 * Engineering Demonstration, kid-friendly
 * Relatively low cost, low maintenance
 * Accurately emulates an earthquake event with regards to tower structural integrity
 * Easily used



Although this project will be demonstrated at an engineering festival, it is quintessential to know that the original inspiration was from professor Alex Barr, a physics professor at Howard Community College.

Considerations for human user/operators
One of our goals was to make it safe and kid-friendly.

-We sanded and polished the edges of the table for safety purpose.



-We installed velcro strips so that it will be easy for kids to place and remove different towers they decide to build.



-We painted the shaker Table assembly to make it more attractive to kids.



The manufacturing and/or purchasing of parts
We bought several things for our table This material list was retrieved from an educational website
 * 2 ft. x 2 ft. plywood (or other wood as available, recommend 1/4– 1/2 inch thick)
 * 2 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch diameter wood dowels, approximately 36 inches long
 * 1 inch x 10 ft. PVC schedule 40 pipe that will be cut into 2 – 24 inch pipes and 2 – 30 inch pipes.
 * 4 – 1 inch PVC schedule 40, 90 degree elbows
 * 4 1/4; inch x 2.5 inch eye bolts with corresponding 1/4 inch nuts
 * 4 1/4 inch x 1 inch hex bolts with 1/4 inch nuts
 * rubber bands (recommend #64 bands)

Other things we bought:


 * Paint and paint brushes


 * Velcro strips to hold towers down

The assembly of parts into larger constructs
To have a flexible structure that could easily be transported, we did not glue the 4 elbows. The two pipes in the length side and the two in the width side were cut respectively to 2' and 2' 8" for the width and the length using an electric saw. The plywood platform was also cut to the required dimensions using the same electric saw. Then, using the drill press and a 0.12" bit, a total of 4 holes( 2 on each side of the width) to screw the hooks holding the rubber bands. Likewise, 8 holes ( 4 on each side of the length ,7 inch apart) were drilled using a 0.20" bit for the holes where the stoppers will be inserted. Next, the holes holding the bolts on the plywood platform were drilled using a 0.23" drill bit. The final step was to insert the rubber bands to the hooks and the plywood bolts.

key characteristics
We had to test different rubber bands to control the movement of the table. Only a specific size, rubber band #64, allowed the platform to have a transitional movement in the length direction with a maximum amplitude of 10 inches (back and forth).

Software Implementation Process
This entire step did not apply to us because we did not have to use any software to implement the Manual shaker Table.

Hardware Software Integration
This entire step did not apply to us because our shaker table was manual and did not require a software.

Test and analysis procedures
We noticed that our table was crooked; the plywood was not straight. To fix it, we put a sixty pound object in the middle of the plywood and left it for a few hours. When we took the object down, the plywood was still not fully straight. We then placed some velcro strips on a five pound object and placed it on the plywood. That was able to keep the plywood straight.

Next,we built several towers and performed 3 different tests:

I- Tall vs. Tall First, we tested two towers of the same height. At a lower frequency, we noticed that both towers reacted. At a higher frequency however, they did not move as much.

II- Tall vs Short The tall tower reacted at a lower frequency whereas the short one started moving when the frequency was high

III- weak Tall vs. strong tall This time, we added more K'nex to one of the tall tower. The weaker tower reacted more with the low frequency.

The verification of performance to system requirements
For the Manual Shaker assembly to fit a small table, the PVC frame width had to be trimmed to 2' but the length stayed unchanged at 28"(2.5').



The validation of performance to customer needs
This step does not apply to us because we do not have costumers. The project will be presented at an engineering festival thus we built it simple enough for kids to use.

Sourcing, partnering, and supply chains
This step does not apply to the implement phase of the Manual shaker Table.

Possible implementation process improvements
The manual Shaker table was resized to its final dimensions and tested successfully. We will refine the complete manual Shaker Table by replacing the K'nex stoppers with plastic stoppers( 6" long and with a diameter of.20") built from the MakerBot. The Manual Shaker Table will be more steady on any table if 4 suction cups were bolted to the PVC main frame. The suction cups will keep the frame firmly in place on any smooth platform. The type of suction cup that could fit the pvc frame was the brand Zesco ,Part #015-D-368.







Next Steps
A final and refined Manual Shaker Table will be safely used at the Engineering Fair by Kids. Our hope is that the Kids will learn about earthquake simulation by using this shaker table.