The team has picked a concept to develop from our generated ideas based on how well we believe it fulfills our specifications and other criteria like cost. We looked further at existing products to see what mechanisms we could implement in our design/prototype to reduce fabrication time and future obstacles in the spring semester. We decided to use an existing scissor lift for our lifting mechanism and an adjustable arm from a current wheel dolly so our device can be used for various wheel sizes. Additionally, we have completed a preliminary load and FEM analysis on the device's arm that will need to be refined. The arm is the primary component the team is designing or modifying. Pictures of this work can be found below. The team is currently still developing a final CAD model and refining our load/FEM analysis.
As we approach the end of the semester, our goals mainly include conducting all necessary load analyses on our proposed CAD solutions. By performing load analysis to determine the design’s internal stresses, deformation, etc., we’ll be able to determine any necessary changes we need to make to our design (I.e., material or geometry, for example). Furthermore, following the final iterations of our design materials, structures, mechanisms, etc., we’ll look to begin drafting subsystems and sub-assemblies, as this will allow for a more efficient assembly of our device by essentially providing us with procedures for prototype fabrication. Ultimately, we plan on finalizing our device design by November 25, and while it will take a major time commitment to complete the previously discussed tasks, we are very much still on track to do so.
The team foresees unexpected difficulties in modifying our current design so we can actually fabricate it with our limited skills, knowledge, and tools while also meeting our specifications. We may have to rely on off-the-shelf components more if we realize our design is too ambitious. Additionally, we anticipate that importing the CAD model into COMSOL and conducting FEM analysis on it will be a major obstacle. How we place the load and what type of load will be critical. If need be, we will consult with University of Houston professors and graduate students with expertise in FEM to help guide us.
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