2017/02/22 - A New Consideration

During the last session, we learned that we would need to integrate Solar panels into our design as a large "full roof" canopy similar to the one shown below.

Before this, I had assumed that the Solar panels would have been installed directly above the guide ways, which will make a significant change in my assumptions (requiring the final design to also be able to hold perpendicular support beams in addition to the guide way and pod cars).

We were told to contact Eric Rosenfeld about the solar panel mountings, and he gave me his report from last semester. Also, I tried emailing my other group members for the meeting, but only one responded, so I will have to confirm with them tomorrow.

Lastly, I made a new design to try to get it closer to the original palm tree design:

This design features a horizontal x-beam in addition to the standard vertical one. It uses a series of sleeves to give it a smooth look and has a version of my 3 part clamp to fix the beams. The portions sticking on top is meant to have a series of holes that can be used to fix modular mountings (similar to mechano/erector toys) in the most effective way for the solar panel at any given location. I have difficulty integrating the triangular central hole though, as it will ether be too small to notice or interfere with the strength of the whole system

That being said, I suspect that the "cat's eye" design would work better if the solar canopy is in a curved shape (as in the photo, but the T would also work well if the canopy is meant to self adjust or if it is a flat array. In any case, I find it a little odd that we were asked originally to try to make the palm tree design as it will be hidden by the full roof canopy and will look very different from the example that the client saw.

I also want to note that I reattempted to contact Andries, during the February 15 meeting, but he has not yet responed.

2017/02/15 - Sketches and Designs

The first task I did for this week was writing an email to Andries asking if he could make a blueprint for the Stub column that Vanderbend could manufacture for us (using 1/8 inch sheet metal and some approximate external dimensions). He hasn't answered yet, so I may need to retry to contact him this week.

Like wise, we were tasked with designing the support structures. I made some rough sketches in the class section about a potential clamp design (involving one upper and two side parts - show at the lower left) and support configurations. Of the support designs, the most interesting one made would be the have to be the one in the sketch at the lower right. The way it works is that at the top, one beam or simple CFT (concrete filled tube) is held at the top of the column (preventing vertical motion), while there are two beams/CFTs that each an rest one end on opposite vertical sides of the column (preventing horizontal motion). The upper beam/CFT and the lower beams/CFTs would be able distribute the load among each other, while also using their weights to create a squeezing effect on the Column, allowing them to remain firmly attached without need of making holes (and consequently weak points) in the column, though they still require a would a system of custom clamps.

Later in the week I made some accurately scaled variations of it in SOLIDWORKS,
which can be seen below. If any of the designs are selected, I will work next week to design some clamping mechanisms would be compatible with it.

2017/02/08 - New Objectives

This week I focused mainly on gathering information about how our group should proceed for the spring semester.

I had written down many questions to ask Andries about his x-beam design before meeting meeting, and he did answer most of them and pointed out several features not explicitly shown in the blueprints.

Afterwards I discussed with my group-mates and with Mr. Swenson and Dr. Furman about what we should do for the deliverable. Although my group and I were originally expecting to do a medium T-shaped prototype, we later learned that a clients wants to build a round and curved Y-shaped version. In addition Andries said that we should actually do a smaller model to showcase the final look (similar to an architect's model) with working cars and a full scale column "stub" to show the technology behind it. This changes the plan dramatically, but likely will make things a lot simpler for our group.

At home, I began experimenting with a few of the possible configurations of how to make the Y shape configuration while still using the x-beams for the top portion. Unfortunately, the very linear nature of the beams makes this trickier than expected, as even with a masking cover there isn't much room for the upper gap, unless we use two branching bars which could be vulnerable to break at the joint.