August 1st: TechnoFrame version 1.0.0, modeled based on the sketch below. It includes 45mm x 45mm 80/20 for the main frame, and 45mm x 90mm profiles for cross supports. Dimensions: length: 45 inches depth: 32 inches height: 50 inches (10 inch extension). I (Nate) had a late-night surge of energy tonight, so I capitalized. Above is a sketch of the TechnoCart design that Zach and I have been discussing, researching, and picturing over the past month-and-a-half. Rather than describing the different features we were brainstorming, a full-blown drawing encapsulating all main aspects of the cart proves much more effective in conveying our thoughts. Take a look around, zoom in on my quite sloppy handwriting, and I believe you will acquire a sense of our design plan. This was no easy task, yet it was definitely worth the time. Modeling the cart in SolidWorks is much easier with a reference 'blueprint' for us to work from.
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Nate - 13 hours into my grueling SolidWorks self-training, Team Techno has reached a significant milestone in our project journey. I 3-D modeled a 30x40x30 aluminum extrusion 80/20 frame-- the kind of frame that will outline our TechnoCart. After hours of head-banging confusion, I finally tied together the pieces of how to save a custom weldment profile and apply the extrusion to a 3-D sketch. We need to refine the frame by optimizing the dimensions, analyzing the 80/20 catalog for the most effective extrusion sizes (for the frame above, I used the 45-4545 series of 80/20, the largest profile available), applying the correct corner treatment, creating sufficient cross-supports for the frame, and figuring out the best fasteners to use in order to lock the separate extrusions together during assembly. Beyond simply spending hours training and modeling with the program, both of us have been putting solid time into researching components and brainstorming different design configurations. Zach and I have been collaborating consistently about SolidWorks training, potential designs and design modifications, and more. We have also contacted Mr. Baraty on multiple occasions, and have met with the three of us over zoom. Slack has proved to be a great resource to keep the three of us continuously in touch, as well as for logging progress and sharing helpful resource videos/articles. Zach - After researching a couple other 3D design software's, I came across a website called Vention. This website uses its own type of aluminum extrusions (extremely similar to the 80/20 extrusions) in order to design ideas. Vention is very different to SolidWorks (which we intend to design our final model in) in that the design process is very straightforward and streamlined, with the parts being very accessible and the design tools being simple to understand for the average user. Because of this fact, I decided to use this website to design a prototype that Nate and I could roughly base our final SolidWorks model off of. While the model above will not resemble as our final design much, it is a good reference tool for our future endeavors.
The minibus back door is 52" tall and 34" wide.
The elevator is 42" wide. The GIC doorway is 35-3/4" wide. Important measurements were taken, and our limiting dimension is 34'' wide (We won't go near 52'' tall). Both of us, with this information, are working on a 'deep' cart design, where one dimension remains under 34'' in length, so our cart can fit through the minibus door. Nate is on vacation at the moment, but even so, both of us our working on sharpening our skills with SolidWorks. Our next order of business is to have all 80/20 aluminum models downloaded to be accessible on our SolidWorks programs. Once we get that, we can soon begin updating with screenshots of our cart design progress. Today I took my first steps working with SolidWorks. I spent a couple hours inching through SolidWorks navigation skills and made myself a little cheat sheet for movement in case I forget. I followed a YouTube tutorial on my laptop while working on my monitor-- a setup I'll likely maintain. Just looking at all the different buttons and features on the program... Whew! this is going to be a journey!
Both of us will log our hours on Slack, our communication program between us, Mr. Baraty, and Ms. Reichard. It will be easier to have all in one location, especially in that we all have access at any time. |