User:Nathanhall78/ENES-100/Project0/CDIO

Problem Statement
Design Fin Ray utilizing cheapest/on-hand materials available.

Designing the Implementation Process
The design of the Fin Ray (FR) should allow it to flex with the direction of force applied to it. It should then rebound to the neutral state. As such, the basic look of the FR should include flexible/pliable flanks connected with struts. The flanks should connect at the terminal end at an acute angle.

Work flow
Cut struts from wooden shims using an exacto knife. The wooden shims started to splinter and break off unevenly. Due to this, a new material for the struts was located: black plastic zip ties. The zip ties are flexible and durable. The ribs allow the tie to be cut evenly at discrete lengths. The lengths chosen were 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30 ribs.

Attempted to attach fishing line to strut cutting out a notch and using a simple hobby glue, however the fishing line would not stay connected to the strut. Decided to bore hole through strut and feed fishing line through, tying knots on either side of the strut. After completing this step, realized that there would be zero rigidity in the outer flanks, thereby negating the FR.

Using one whole zip tie, bent it at the center point to form an acute angle at the apex. Began to glue the struts on the inner surface of the flanks using super glue. After allowing the glue to dry, began to test the design.

Test, Verification, Validation, and Certification
Testing the design revealed flaws - the struts attached as they were to the flanks would not allow for flank flexibility, which is a core component of the FR design. Also, the struts broke away from the flanks.

Quality and safety assurance
All materials sourced from home. Quality of wood shim not suitable for trimming with an exacto blade. Plastic zip ties are of decent quality, and seem to be holding up fine.

Goggles are worn when using the exacto knife, as small pieces of cut material may be ejected at random angles. Fingers are kept above the cutting surface of the blade at all times. Proper lighting is used to illuminate cutting materials and surfaces.

Next Steps
After decision made to not use fishing line as outside flank, next design will utilize a zip tie for the flanks, connecting the struts on the interior side with glue.