From c95041d34b27422e50e204eb1b6b70a256e840fe Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: William Floyd Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2020 00:11:57 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] clickbait: More content. --- content/projects/clickbait.md | 29 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 29 insertions(+) diff --git a/content/projects/clickbait.md b/content/projects/clickbait.md index 84dfbcd..9e1c8f1 100644 --- a/content/projects/clickbait.md +++ b/content/projects/clickbait.md @@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ Create a device to launch a fishing weight. It must: * weight less than 5 pounds * cost less than $100 * be battery powered +* be capable of firing 30 times over the course of 1 hour * (for extra credit) be wirelessly controlled I was assigned as an engineering lead, and as it turned out, completed the majority of the physical project. @@ -38,3 +39,31 @@ And so it was that we began brainstorming. *** ![Laying the groundwork](/images/reduced/clickbait/20190919_143530.jpg) + +The idea was fairly simple - use two smooth rods and a leadscrew to pull a carriage against springs that would then somehow fire the fishing weight. +The choice of this mechanism was, for the most part, due to availability of parts. +I already owned the necessary rods and bearings, and springs were readily available. + +![First print](/images/reduced/clickbait/20190919_224711.jpg) + +Soon though, we had [some](/images/reduced/clickbait/20190919_213947.jpg) basic 3D printed parts in order - for it was 3D printing that was most accessible to us, and allowed largely unattended manufacturing while classes continued. +Despite this early start of progress, however, the ever present tendency toward procrastination crept in. +The usual array of excuses were made by all, and little actual work was accomplished. + +So it was that we inched ever closer to the deadline. +Past the basic idea of our launch mechanism, all else was yet to be decided. +A few calculations were half-heartedly done (kinetic energy, spring constants, etc.), but we all knew we didn't know enough to make any meaningful decisions yet. +We had some very much unfounded fears concerning battery power, and not enough fears concerning torque - we believed we would be using NEMA 17 motors to tension to leadscrew. +Needless to say, this did not turn out to be realistic. +Nor was it realistic for us to budget a baitcasting reel instead of a much cheaper spincaster. + +*** + +![T'was but a Fanta-sea](/images/reduced/clickbait/20191010_152148.jpg) + +Eventually, however, some progress was made - progress in something of a wrong direction, but progress nonetheless. +As the shape of our ungainly creation began to emerge, it was clear progress needed to be made quickly. +Once we coupled our stepper motor to the leadscrew and power tested the unit, it was also clear that change was in order. + +So a decision was made: a cheap cordless drill would be pilfered for a battery, motor and chuck. +A H-Bridge would need to be bought (I [tried to](/images/reduced/clickbait/20191025_194859.jpg) [make one](/images/reduced/clickbait/20191102_144426.jpg)) \ No newline at end of file