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.