College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
6-2022
Primary Advisor
Daniel Castro, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
The following series of documents illustrate the design processes performed by a senior project team of three students in the mechanical engineering program at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. The designs produced and discussed in this report were created for sponsors from the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden (SLOBG), Eve Vigil and Michael Kahl. The project focuses on the redesign, production process, and implementation of two successful, functional interactive physics exhibits: a gearbox and an air cannon. We found that the previous exhibits were salvageable and demonstrated design features we wanted to improve upon. To focus on one project at a time we have been approved by Daniel Castro, our senior project advisor, to only discuss the air cannon design process in the Final Design Review (FDR) document. This document discusses the reasons and justification we have for our final air cannon design, which mainly emphasizes durability. Since durability was the chief concern with the previous air cannon, we made design changes with longevity in mind along with other engineering specifications, which were met completely as seen in our testing and design verification sections. The changes we made consisted of replacing the previous plastic diaphragm to a solid acrylic piston and reinforcing the assembly with a pair of steel supports. With the gear exhibit, we simplified the gear trains and devised a way for users to race each other through lifting weights via pulleys. These exhibits will be available in the Children’s Garden section of the SLOBG with the intention to educate child and parents alike about the concept of gear trains and energy transfer.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/676