Today was Dartmouth’s graduation, and Hanover was packed as the team struggled to find parking. Since we were at Thayer until the early hours of the morning, we slept in a little bit and refreshed ourselves by jumping into the Connecticut River. It was a gorgeous day to swim, and to test out Riley’s GoPro for the trip. But when we pulled out of the parking lot to go up the hill to Thayer, Scotty’s car completely ran out of gas. It was an eventful ten minutes of coasting back into the parking lot next to the reunion tent, calling safety and security, and thanking facilities management for donating a gallon of gas to the cause! The team was ready to begin cutting the first template when we realized Scotty’s backpack was missing. This was an issue because we decided to store the keys to the lockers in the backpack for safekeeping. This meant that he couldn’t access the handsaw and sander over the weekend. After a thorough search, we decided to go to Home Depot to buy the tools to bring on the trip- and begin working with them now. When they were finally able to cut out the first standing frames, Riley, Alé and Scotty noticed that the dimensions were off. After reviewing the CAD files, it was clear that it wasn’t an issue with the original designs but instead what line they selected for the shop bot to cut. Luckily this is an easy fix.
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Today the team finished cutting out the first template using the shop bot and are now able to build each individual part! Emily also finalized the first press release, and everyone is ready to spread the word. Riley, Alé and Scotty worked with different iterations for the model- improving yesterday’s designs in the process. One thing they noticed is that they will need to add more tabs in order to minimize chipping on the edges of the template. These tabs would also make the templates stronger and less likely to break from the force of the router. They needed to put pressure on the wood sections between the slots in order to prevent so much vibrating. It turned out reasonably well, although a little piece broke off because of a knot in the wood (making the team consider using a new material). The team then made the first cuts to see how the template works!
The first full day of work with the whole team resulted in the successful cutting of two templates! We also had our first wound. Although her finger was grazed by a cotter, with the help of a Band-Aid, Alé is expected to live. The majority of the day was spent in the CAD lab, since designing templates that are effective for making standing frames while also easy to build is challenging. For a router to cut the slots needed on the standing frames, we must first develop what essentially functions as a large stencil for power tools. Since tools like routers have a lot of power, cutting the standing frames requires this type of guidance. These screenshots show the template for the standing frame’s backboard during the designing phase in CAD. A significant amount of time goes into ensuring that the measurements are precise so that we can use all of our resources efficiently. We are only using one sheet of 4’ by 8’ plywood to make two standers, and the pieces that are cut away from the backboard are used for the headpieces and tray table.
Alé and Emily started the day with a short, chilly run in the morning fog before Alé and Scotty went to Pompanousuc Mills to get suggestions on what tools can be optimized for making various parts of the standers. It was especially helpful to gain preliminary information that informed the process of designing the templates for the (ever difficult) router. After hours spent using CAD, we were able to design our initial templates! At 4:00 pm, Scotty and Emily met Riley at the Dartmouth Coach near campus, and welcomed him to the team with a trip to get his first ever bubble tea (which he was diplomatic about). We went with the entire team to test our endurance in cold water with a brisk swim at Mink Brook. To ensure good group dynamics, we were obligated to do a bit of “hazing” and test Riley with trial by fire. After going out to a group dinner at Thai Orchid, we spotted Emily’s mom across the street looking at a jewelry vendor with her little sister Rosie. We immediately came up with the idea to send Riley over without introduction and propose to Rosie using the rings from the vendor. Riley was a champion and did it without hesitation. To say the least, he immediately fits into the group and has already started working on learning CAD and developing the new website! College students are no strangers to lugging over-stuffed, asymmetrical boxes through narrow hallways, into a spring downpours, and packing them into suddenly much-smaller-than-remembered vehicles- but today was especially impressive. Alé and Emily moved all of Scotty’s worldly possessions (mostly bowties). We also moved everything we would need for the next few weeks to live at the condo near Dartmouth as we prepare to go abroad.
After moving in, we spent the majority of the day working in Thayer at the Computer Assisted Design lab (CAD), where Scotty and Alé brainstormed solutions to the many challenges posed by developing a usable template. We spent hours sketching, bouncing ideas back and forth and pacing around the model standing frame (complete with a teddy bear strapped comfortably in place!). We have a few ideas after examining existing parts, but as of now the template remains a work in progress. The team is headed out early tomorrow morning to Pompanousuc Mills to ask the experts what they think! Ironically, our biggest issue so far has been overcoming incomplete and broken routers. Hopefully the (second) one we order straight from the factory will be in working condition. The team is excited to meet Riley tomorrow! |
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August 2019
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