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

College - Author 4

College of Engineering

Department - Author 4

Mechanical Engineering Department

Degree - Author 4

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Date

6-2024

Primary Advisor

Eileen Rossman, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department

Abstract/Summary

The Final Design Review (FDR) encompasses information regarding the final design verification prototype (FVP), manufacturing, testing, and future recommendations for the Expanding Fireplace Senior Project sponsored by the SLO Civic Ballet. The project aims to create the frame of an expanding fireplace set piece for The Nutcracker production at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center in December 2024. The current set piece being used has unfavorable features that will be addressed with the new design. The current set piece being used has unfavorable features that have been addressed with the new design we have developed. Our sponsors have proposed several notable design changes since the Concept Design Review (CDR). These changes include adding beams across the top of the vertical beams that can slide along one another, allowing the frame to maintain a closed shape when expanding. This allows for more ease in attaching decorations to the set piece. Another proposed change was to place a turntable bearing under each caster wheel, allowing the wheels to act similarly to triple swivel caster wheels, which experience little to no jog when changing directions. This will be useful since the moving base subsystems change their rolling direction during production when transitioning from expanding to contracting. Other changes implemented on our behalf include reinforcing certain aspects of the stationary and moving base subsystems by changing areas that used 2020 extrusions (20mm by 20mm) for 2040 extrusions (20mm by 40mm). Lastly, to support the beams across the top, which our sponsors proposed, we implemented a diagonal support beam on each moving base subsystem. The final design consists of a stationary base, two moving bases on either side of the stationary base, and vertical sliders attached onto each respective moving base. The stationary base serves as a mounting point for the motor, several pulleys, and an overall datum from which the expansion occurs. The two moving bases can move outward, allowing for expansion in the horizontal plane. They are guided out by sliding rails attached to the moving bases and nested into the stationary base. A pulley system directly powered by the winch facilitates this horizontal movement. The moving bases also interface with the vertical sliders. A fixed-length pulley system powers the vertical sliders movement. This allows us to expand vertically as a result of the horizontal expansion by fixing an end of the pulley system on the opposing moving base and another end at the bottom of the vertically sliding beam. Our design eliminates the need for a separate power source for vertical expansion, resulting in the use of a single motor to power the entire expansion of the fireplace. The verification prototype met the major goals of expansion time, low noise output, and desired weight, but it fell short in terms of overall desired expansion. The fireplace expanded roughly four feet in each dimension, but roughly seven feet was desired.

ME_S2024_F15_Video.mp4 (11509 kB)
Project Video

ME_S2024_F15_Poster.pdf (319 kB)
Project Poster

ME_S2024_F15_SOW.pdf (3139 kB)
Scope of Work

ME_S2024_F15_PDR.pdf (5785 kB)
Preliminary Design Review

ME_S2024_F15_CDR.pdf (9244 kB)
Critical Design Review

ME_S2024_F15_Drawings.pdf (2320 kB)
Drawing Package

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