Spring Weeks 7-8

Moving forward with the the final design, this week our team was primarily focused on building skills and concluding the materials that would work best for the purposes of the final prototype.

Due to the fact that the final design will incorporate real hammer blades that are much heavier than the 3D-printed hammer blades that were used in the mid-quarter prototype, our team has prioritized finding an axle (functioning as cutter shaft) that will able to withstand the weight and force of the final design blades. In discussing the options for getting the necessary axle, we found that the most economical and sensible decision would be to weld a portion of the axle ourselves. Most of the team was not experienced for the type of welding necessary to make the axle, therefore two of our team members are learning to weld through the PRL (product realization lab). 

Besides learning to weld, our team has prioritized laying out the goals and tests the will allow us to measure up to the user and technical requirements for the project. Our main goals to demonstrate in the midst of producing the final design will be: 1. Determining Blade Movement 2.  Determining the Cutting Potential of the Shredder with Accessible Materials 3. Determining the Cutting Potential of the Shredder with Higher Power and Real Hammer Blades. The test that we will run that will assist in reaching these goals involve using a stop motion camera to better visualize the blade movement and attempting to cut different materials with the shredder at different power levels. 

In the near future, our team also plans on visiting Alan steel to take a closer look at pieces that will be used in the final design. Our team is also looking forward to talking over our project with a faculty member with more experience in the manufacturing industry (specifically for mechanized tools) and mechanical engineering.