Mousetrap Dump Truck and Separation System - Essay Example

Mousetrap dump truck and separation system project Khaled Al-Mutairi 2. Dhari ALENEZI 3. Salman ALSHEMERI 4. Suoltan ALSHEMERI 5.Seyedsoroush Sadamir Teacher: Mustafa Ucgul ENGG1004 (ENGINEERING DESIGN AND INNOVATION) Contents The purpose of this report is to illustrate innovation and understanding using clear explanation and enlightenment of the design process. The goal of the minor project is establishing innovation and creativity by using a critical way of problem solving. It aims at designing a dump truck –truck used for transportation of loose material. A distinctive dump truck is characterised by an open-box bed hinged at the back, the front can be lifted allowing deposition of the contents on the ground at the delivery site. 4 2.0 Design Specification 4 3.0 Initial Concepts and Discussion 4 4.0 Concept Selection 6 5.0Final Design and Manufacture 7 1.0 Introduction The purpose of this report is to illustrate innovation and understanding using clear explanation and enlightenment of the design process. The goal of the minor project is establishing innovation and creativity by using a critical way of problem solving. It aims at designing a dump truck –truck used for transportation of loose material. A distinctive dump truck is characterised by an open-box bed hinged at the back, the front can be lifted allowing deposition of the contents on the ground at the delivery site. 2.0 Design Specification 3.0 Initial Concepts and Discussion The core concept of task two is to utilize energy of a mousetrap to make the device mobile for 5 metres in a straight line. The second section of the project is the separation box which is supposed to separate the different sizes of the balls when hit. However, the description of the project is to utilize light, simple, flexible, inexpensive and available materials. There are various materials that the group used to design a lightweight truck model e.g. light carton, disks, BBQ sticks, light fishing line, bottle tops, mouse trap, rubber band and small pieces of cloth hangers. In addition, the group used three materials in designing the separation box: cartoon, BBQ sticks and wooden sticks. Tools involved: glow gun, balloons and tape. In a nutshell, the project should demonstrate innovation of a lightweight truck in the simplest way possible. The concept is to capture energy from a mouse trap to allow it to move for 5minutes along a straight path. The box holding the balls is strategically placed high above the body to allow the balls to drop in the separation box. Pieces of cloth hangers are used to improve flexibility. Objectives of the project 1. To design the perfect project. 2. To design a simple and light project to pass in assignment 2. 3. To achieve positive results during project testing. 4. To ensure delivery of all balls into the separation box. 5. To ensure the dump track model moves in a straight line for 5 meters. 6. To ensure the group unanimously accepts the project. 7. To improve engineering design skills. 8. To increase the university in terms of innovation. 9. To comprehend the concept of design and innovation in engineering. Table 1: Design Specification Wish Demand The project must move for 5 meters. Yes The box that the project carrying must throw the balls inside the separation box. Yes The big balls must be inside the separation box. Yes The project must move in a straight line. Yes The medium balls should be in the ball box after throw them in the separation box. Yes The project must score a high result. Yes The small balls must stay in the bottom of the separation box. Yes The fishing line does not cut. Yes The door of the box that carrying the balls must not open while the project moves. Yes 4.0 Concept Selection Initially, the project had three possible designs. Numerous factors had to be considered to adopt one as the final plan. Figure 4.1 shows the first design –mouse trap car-the second design consisted of a large coca cola bottle. Figure 4.2 is an illustration of the final design. Before settling for the design in figure 4.2, several tests were directed to eradicate all flaws in each design. In plan one, the weight of 18 balls ensured the car could not sustain steady speed for five meters. This prompted the group to replace boxed body with a coca cola bottle. The second designs challenge was that it could not hold the 18 balls, but it managed a steady speed for more than 5metres. After deliberations, the group settled for a final design basing considerations on speed and weight. The body composed a carton box glued by three BBQ wooden sticks beneath it to reinforce its strength. The extra strength is to ensure the body can bear the pressure and the weight to be coherent and consistent. Manufacturing process is elaborated further in the manufacturing section. Figure 4.1 Final First Car (Taken by: Khalid Almutairi) Figure 4.1 Final Second Car (Taken by: Khalid Almutairi) Table one: Materials Selections for the three designs Design One Design Two Design Three Wood BBQ & wooden sticks BBQ & wooden sticks BBQ sticks Wheels 4 CDs 4 plastic 4 CDs Rods Wood Wood Plastic Weight Heavier Heavy Lighter Thread Sewing thread Fishing line Fishing line Power Source Mousetrap Mousetrap Mousetrap This table showed the difference between the three designs and the materials that used on them. Table two: The Merits Of Each Design. Mark of ten Speed Weight Straight line First design 3 5 2 Second design 4 4 4 Third design 6 3 7 This table showed the merits of each design. The final design was the third design with more fast and light weight. 5.0Final Design and Manufacture In the ultimate design, the group worked on the basic Mousetrap dump truck and separation system. Even though exploration of other ideas was considered the group settled for the mousetrap dump truck, the group faced many constraining factors, this derailed the attempt to turn the ideas into practicability. Though the group members worked towards tackling and addressing the challenges they still had an overall effect on the groups’ final design. These challenges include: 1. Damage or breakdown of fundamental tools for implementing ideas. 2. Limited time to explore all ideas. 3. Indolence and procrastination by certain members of the group. Figure5.1 Final design (Taken by: Khalid Almutairi) , Figure5.2 separation system (Taken by: Khalid Almutairi) Inadequate time forced the group to assemble the concept car design hastily (the car building took place the very night of the demonstration). Limited time constrained the groups’ ability to exercise creative thinking i.e. No ideas could be developed to facilitate the movement of the mouse trap powered dump truck car in a straight path for approximately 5 metres. Nonetheless, the group used the mousetrap as the car’s body with two axles attached to the mouse trap powered dump truck using a wooden hook. Additionally, the wheels of the car were made using CDs with four water bottle tops on the CD space to fasten the wheels on the axles. A long stick was hinged to the side of the mousetrap to control the speed of the Mousetrap dump truck as the vehicle is powered off. As a result, the vehicle moved for 5 meters. The separation box is to isolate the balls, transfer three different ball sizes to the separation system which will stand 5 m from the initial point. After the transfer of the balls to the separation unit, the balls automatically separate- only the 30 mm diameter balls will be collected under the separation unit in the container. On the other hand, a typical dump truck is characterized by an open-box, bed hinged at the back, the front can be lifted allowing the contents deposit on the ground behind the truck at the delivery site. In assembling the functional car, the group relied on a design creation. Some of the tools used to build up the car: hooks, threads scissors, hacksaw, drill, and wood. Procedure followed to build the car: 1. Drill four holes, two in front and two on the rear end of the carton and the sides of the mousetrap. 2. Fix/attach the mousetrap using a glue gun. 3. Fix/attach four water bottle tops to the CDs then fix the CDs onto the axle (wood). 4. Attach the wooden hook on to the car. 5. Join the stick to the side of the mousetrap using cable ties. 6. Attach a thread double the length of the vehicle to the top of the stick so it forms a loop at rear axle. 7. Touch the snapping part of the mousetrap so that the loop can begin to turn. The momentum of the loop triggers off the rotation of the back axle propelling the car to about five meters. 8. Manufacture the balls-box from carton and add the door for the balls 9. Attach the balls-box for the balls in front of the car using glue gun 10. Place a carton slightly lower than the balls-box to lengthening it. 11. Create the separation system from carton 12. Make three different levels using BBQ sticks 13. Insert BBQ sticks on top of the door for the balls-box door to open and flexibility. 14. Open the second level to allow the balls move to the second separation system 15. Glue the wooden sticks and install a piece of carton at the end of the separation system to allow door opening that facilitates the transfer of balls to the separation chamber. 16. Make a second separation system using carton to allow the collection of the medium sized balls. 6.0 Testing The project was tested numerous times to ensure all the aims and purposes of the project are satisfactory. The main objective was to ensure the locomotion of the dumb truck design for five meters along a straight path hitting the separation box and separating the balls according to various sizes. That is when the mouse trap hits the separation box, the balls drop randomly into the box and are separated with size as a determining factor for the separation. Though the experience was challenging it was exciting as it provided a unique opportunity to use ideas to solve challenges faced. The experience also provides a unique platform to showcase intellect and creativity through innovation. Various problems encountered through the project i.e. ensuring the movement of the car along a straight path for 5 meters till it hits the separation box. Adjusting the aim of the car to guarantee it hits the separation box was challenging, provoking the group to emanate an innovative way to solve the problem, the use CDs as wheels for the car. After all this tests the car was able to move for about six meters in a straight line. Other problems came up i.e. the surface for testing/demonstration, class tables that have slots between the aligned planks that make the table surface this slots result in increased resistance hence reduced speed of the car. In order to counter the speed reduction other aspects such as robe length, the power sticks pulling the robe and in addition some weight had to be added to the at the rear to balance the weight at the front of the mouse trap. The addition of weight is attained by using coins -6 50 cent coins-to balance the weights in the front and the back. After addressing all this challenges the car moves for about five meters at steady speed 7.0 Risk Assessment List of possible risk associated with the project: · Balls drop in the floor during the dumb truck moves. · The dumb truck model does not move in a straight line. · The fishing line breaks when the project demonstration commences. · Dropping of the balls outside the separation box. · The medium sized balls and the small sized balls all drop inside the separation box. · The bigger sized balls and medium sized balls drop out of the separation box. 8.0 Conclusion Creativity and innovation is a key instrument in solving day to day challenges faced by humans. Creative innovation is a major pillar in engineering as it motivates novel inventions that are usually followed by urge to refine the final products of innovation. The simple mouse trap design is but a simple idea, but that is just in its conception stage, it can be developed to more complex system that is relevant and beneficial to humans comfortable living. Read More