<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>
		<title>AlexR's Mechanisms and Things That Move</title>
		<link>http://e-sa.org/itp/mechanisms/</link>
		<description>Mechanisms and Things That Move at ITP</description>
		<language>en</language>
		<item>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:02 -0400</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 9, Final Progress</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080417_1208450405.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080417_1208450405.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 9, Progress<br />
<br />
Work progresses slowly with the moving butterflies. <br />
<br />
Problem: I assembled everything with the new enclosure,  but there is<br />
too much friction between the brass tube and gears - the motor is<br />
jamming.<br />
<br />
Dustyn's suggestions:<br />
<br />
1. friction is coming from the holes (as I'm not using bushings) try a<br />
lubricant like teflon multi-use<br />
<br />
2. send brass rod to increase friction between the rod and gears<br />
<br />
3. use double sided tape and sandpaper to increase friction on the other<br />
side<br />
<br />
I write that I have too much friction, then Dustyn suggests increased<br />
friction, this may seem backwards, but it is all about location.  The<br />
brass rod is smooth, as is the tape I'm using on the shafts, so in order<br />
to generate enough grip I am pushing all the parts together.  Not only<br />
does the brass rod not grip well, but there is too much pressure for the<br />
rod to move vertically.  Dustyn's suggestion is to generate grip between<br />
the rod and gears, and thus reduce the required pressure.  I will try<br />
this approach in the next week.<br />
<br />
Now, switching to the flapping mechanism.<br />
<br />
Problem: The fishing line was snapping as the motor pulled on it.<br />
<br />
Solution: Metalliferous sells jewelry/bead wire, so I purchased .1 mm,<br />
19 strand nylon coated steel wire.  This is much stronger - but it<br />
snapped as well.  I believe it snapped because the movement of the wire<br />
through the rod was not straight, and thus not smooth.  The bending of<br />
the wire caused it to snap.  I have a second butterfly which I've built<br />
with much less friction, so I will see if it snaps with that version.  I<br />
think generating less movement with the motor will also increase the<br />
life of the wire.  I am trying different woods to attach the motor to,<br />
bass and balsa.  While the balsa is flimsy, I think it is useable and<br />
preferable because it is lighter.<br />
<br />
-- Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:02 -0400<br />
			]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:32 -0400</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 8, Springs</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080409_1207780418.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080409_1207780418.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 8, Springs<br />
<br />
<a href=http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080408-052756.jpg&path=2008/4&order=&num=92><img border=0 src=http://e-sa.org/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080408-052756.jpg></a><br />
<br />
This week our assignment was to do something with a spring.<br />
I choose to continue working on the butterfly flapping mechanism,<br />
ironing out some details involving the spring and the motor.<br />
<br />
The springs I am using are from <a href=http://www.mcmaster.com/>McMaster-Carr</a>.<br />
They are the smallest they have in stock, part # 9657K81.<br />
<br />
- steel compression spring music wire<br />
- 15/16" length<br />
- 3/16" OD<br />
- .012" wire diameter<br />
- .24" compressed length<br />
- .70" deflection @ load<br />
- .20 load lbs.<br />
- .29 rate lbs. / inch<br />
<br />
This means I need .20 lbs or less of work in order to cause the spring<br />
to compress.  I do not need to compress the spring fully, in fact, I am<br />
pulling downwards so the motion is part compression, part bending of the<br />
music wire.  <br />
<br />
For the motor I switched to using Solarbotics <a href=http://www.solarbotics.com/products/gm12a>gm12a</a>.<br />
It is a 100:1 ratio gear motor.  What I've noticed about the gear motors<br />
is the lower the gear ratio the quieter it is.  While the gm14a (298:1)<br />
is obnoxious, the gm12a, and better yet gm18 are silent.  <br />
<br />
<a href=http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080408-061744.jpg&path=2008/4&order=&num=92><img border=0 src=http://e-sa.org/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080408-061744.jpg></a><br />
<br />
I fashioned a base out of perf board, drilling a hole for the brass rod<br />
and attaching the motor with brass wire.  Out of wooden dowel I made a<br />
simple pulley to attach the butterfly lines to.  Worked beautifully -<br />
until the fishing line snapped - I will need to try using music wire as<br />
Tymm suggested.<br />
<br />
I also figured out how much effort the motor was outputting to pull the<br />
butterfly: a max of 70 mA, which is well below the stall current of 300<br />
mA.  Calculating from the stall torque, I'd say 70 mA generates about 4<br />
oz./in..  Low and behold, .2 lbs are required for compression, or about<br />
3.2 ounces, looks about right!<br />
<br />
For the Hack-a-day I am going to bring a solar powered crystal light<br />
diffuser.  Using solar power the gears spin, and enough mechanical<br />
advantage is generated to spin a dangling crystal.  Simple,<br />
beautiful, and I'd like to put it back together so it continues to work.<br />
<br />
<a href=http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080410-071843.jpg&path=2008/4&order=&num=92><img border=0 src=http://e-sa.org/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080410-071843.jpg></a><br />
<br />
-- Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:32 -0400<br />
			]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:57 -0400 </pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 7, Midterm</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080322_1206242982.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080322_1206242982.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 7, Midterm<br />
<br />
<table><tr><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080316-083134.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080316-083134.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080317-080013.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080317-080013.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080319-063846.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080319-063846.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080319-063931.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080319-063931.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080319-064041.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080319-064041.jpg'></a></td></tr></table><br />
<br />
A day I thought, a day to assemble the gears and shafts into a working,<br />
moving butterfly.  Ha, I was wrong.  It was more like four.<br />
<br />
I purchased a dremel tool so I could make necessary cuts and holes while<br />
in Colorado (where I wouldn't have access to a shop, just an Ace<br />
hardware store).  The first mistake of version 1 of the model was<br />
placing a static enclosing bridge for the shafts.  Yes, support on the<br />
top of the shafts is essential, but by making a non-removable cover I<br />
had no way to put the gears in place.  The 1/16" indentions I made for<br />
the shafts were a good idea, but too shallow.  Basically, I had no<br />
reliable way to keep the shafts in place.<br />
<br />
<table><tr><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080327-073700.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080327-073700.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080327-093657.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080327-093657.jpg'></a></td></tr></table><br />
<br />
I purchased a 3/8" wood rod, and cut it to make new holders for the<br />
shafts.  I used the initial holes, and drilled into the wood, taping it<br />
into place.  I removed the top bridge support which was in the way.  I<br />
glued the gears into place on the shafts, and positioned them so the<br />
miter gears were properly aligned.  Once the shafts were solidly in<br />
place it was smooth sailing (although getting this far took several<br />
days).  I used tape around the gear hub to hold the butterfly rod in<br />
place.<br />
<br />
<embed src="http://e-sa.org/itp/mechanisms/howgearswork.mov" width="320" height="240" autoplay="false" loop="false" controller="true" pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/"></embed><br />
<br />
I decided on 1/16" bronze rod for the butterfly.  The gold color goes<br />
well with the gold metallic linen.  In order to give the fabric<br />
thickness, and hide the wrong side, I glued two laser cut butterflies<br />
together with embroidery glue.  I used 28 gauge brass wire to attach the<br />
spring to the butterfly.  I drilled small holes through the fabric, also<br />
28 gauge, to allow easy passage and low visual impact of the wire.  Next<br />
I drilled a hole into the brass rod, and ran two lines of fishing line<br />
down the rod to be pulled on by a motor and give the butterfly its<br />
flapping effect.  Fishing line and spring placement was essential in<br />
giving the butterfly a decent flapping look!<br />
<br />
<embed src="http://e-sa.org/itp/mechanisms/flybutterfly.mov" width="320" height="240" autoplay="false" loop="false" controller="true" pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/"></embed><br />
<br />
Of the original proposal, the flapping motion via a motor is the only<br />
part I was unable to complete.  I will continue to work on it, but the<br />
motors I have were not strong enough, and placement of the motor is<br />
difficult.  I did take the extension mechanism a step further by hooking<br />
it up to an IR sensor and using that to control the butterfly.  <br />
<br />
<embed src="http://e-sa.org/itp/mechanisms/v1working.mov" width="320" height="240" autoplay="false" loop="false" controller="true" pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/"></embed><br />
<br />
<p class=codefoo><br />
/* ButterflyDressCodeV1 by alexr 20080326 */<br />
<br />
int irPin = 1;<br />
int switchPin = 2;		// switch input<br />
int motor1Pin = 3;		// H-bridge leg 1 <br />
int motor2Pin = 4;		// H-bridge leg 2 <br />
int speedPin = 9;		 // H-bridge enable pin <br />
int ledPin = 13;			//LED <br />
int val = 0;	<br />
int inMotion = 0;<br />
<br />
void setup() {<br />
	Serial.begin(9600); <br />
<br />
	// set the switch as an input:<br />
	pinMode(switchPin, INPUT); <br />
<br />
	// set all the other pins you're using as outputs:<br />
	pinMode(motor1Pin, OUTPUT); <br />
	pinMode(motor2Pin, OUTPUT); <br />
	pinMode(speedPin, OUTPUT);<br />
	pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);<br />
<br />
	// set speedPin high so that motor can turn on:<br />
	digitalWrite(speedPin, HIGH); <br />
<br />
	// blink the LED 3 times. This should happen only once.<br />
	// if you see the LED blink three times, it means that the module<br />
	// reset itself,. probably because the motor caused a brownout<br />
	// or a short.<br />
	blink(ledPin, 3, 100);<br />
}<br />
<br />
void loop() {<br />
	val = analogRead(irPin)/4;<br />
	Serial.print(val);<br />
	Serial.print(" ");<br />
	Serial.println(inMotion);<br />
	<br />
	/*<br />
	// if the switch is high, motor will turn on one direction:<br />
	 if (digitalRead(switchPin) == HIGH) {<br />
	 digitalWrite(motor1Pin, LOW);	 // set leg 1 of the H-bridge low<br />
	 digitalWrite(motor2Pin, HIGH);	// set leg 2 of the H-bridge high<br />
	 } <br />
	 // if the switch is low, motor will turn in the other direction:<br />
	 else {<br />
	 digitalWrite(motor1Pin, HIGH);	// set leg 1 of the H-bridge high<br />
	 digitalWrite(motor2Pin, LOW);	 // set leg 2 of the H-bridge low<br />
	 }<br />
	 */<br />
	if (val >= 20 && inMotion < 700) {<br />
		digitalWrite(motor1Pin, LOW); <br />
		digitalWrite(motor2Pin, HIGH);<br />
		//inMotion += 2; <br />
		inMotion++; <br />
	}<br />
	else if (val < 20 && inMotion > 0) {<br />
		digitalWrite(motor1Pin, HIGH); <br />
		digitalWrite(motor2Pin, LOW);<br />
		inMotion--;<br />
	}<br />
	else {<br />
		digitalWrite(motor1Pin, LOW);	 <br />
		digitalWrite(motor2Pin, LOW);	<br />
	}<br />
<br />
	//delay(100);<br />
}<br />
<br />
/*<br />
	blinks an LED<br />
 */<br />
void blink(int whatPin, int howManyTimes, int milliSecs) {<br />
	int i = 0;<br />
	for ( i = 0; i < howManyTimes; i++) {<br />
		digitalWrite(whatPin, HIGH);<br />
		delay(milliSecs/2);<br />
		digitalWrite(whatPin, LOW);<br />
		delay(milliSecs/2);<br />
	}<br />
}<br />
</p><br />
<br />
-- Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:57 -0400 <br />
			]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:30 -0400</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 6, Midterm Progress</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080312_1205333846.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080312_1205333846.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 6, Midterm Progress<br />
<br />
In order to do the 3d rapid prototyping for the enclosure case I needed<br />
modeling software for OS X.  Something easily learnable, since I've<br />
never really used 3d modeling software before.  As per Che-Wei's<br />
suggestion I tried Rhino, which has a free beta out for OS X.<br />
<br />
<a href=http://www.rhino3d.com/>Rhino 3D</a><br />
<br />
<img src=http://e-sa.org/itp/wearables/ButterflyEnclosureV1.png><br />
<br />
After a day with it, albeit a solid day, I had modeled the enclosure<br />
case.  Next I scheduled an appointment with AMS so they could review the<br />
file and I could submit the model for printing.  On Monday I made an<br />
appointment for Tuesday, the model was ready by Thursday morning!  I was<br />
amazed at their speed, although it of course depends on how busy they<br />
are.<br />
<br />
The model turned out, more or less, exactly as planned.  The downsides<br />
to the OS X version of Rhino is that you 1) can't render (it crashes)<br />
and you can't script.  This means you can't use handy scripts to<br />
generate gears.  What you can, and should do, is visit AMS, run the<br />
Windows version of Rhino in Parallels and do your work there.  A full<br />
version of Sketchup is also available (Maya of course is available at<br />
ITP).  My advice: Make use of AMS and ask questions!<br />
<br />
<table><tr><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080307-082555.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080307-082555.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080307-082610.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080307-082610.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080307-083530.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080307-083530.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080307-083548.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080307-083548.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080307-083625.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080307-083625.jpg'></a></td><td><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080307-084115.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080307-084115.jpg'></a></td></tr></table><br />
<br />
Next I need to try assembling it.  Yesterday I went to Metalliferous and<br />
a gracious clerkswoman told me exactly how I should cut the silver tube<br />
and attach the butterflies!<br />
<br />
-- Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:30 -0400<br />
			]]></description>
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		<item>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:18 -0500</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 5, Butterfly RFP</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080227_1204164873.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080227_1204164873.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 5, Butterfly RFP<br />
<br />
I look forward to doing business with you. (<a href=http://e-sa.org/itp/mechanisms/butterfly_rfp.pdf>Download</a>)<br />
			]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:25 -0500</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 5, Toilet FBD</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080227_1204139537.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080227_1204139537.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 5, Toilet Handle Free Body Diagram<br />
<br />
<img src=http://e-sa.org/itp/mechanisms/toiletfbd.png><br />
<br />
For my free body diagram I investigated the toilet lever.  Above is the<br />
free body diagram.  While at rest normal force and weight are at work.<br />
When the lever is pushed down, force F acts on the handle, which<br />
rebounds at tension T.  The question I posed is: What force is required<br />
to flush the toilet?<br />
<br />
First we need to calculate the force exerted by the tank of water on the<br />
cap.  Pressure P = Force F divided by area A.  My toilet tank measures<br />
6" * 18" * 6", so the force of the liquid is .5' * 1.5' * .5' = .375 cubic feet.<br />
62.5 is the weight of one cubic foot of water, so .375 * 62.5 = 23.4 lb.  <br />
The area of the toilet is .5 * 1.5 * 144 = 108 square inches.<br />
P = 23.4 / 108, or .1625 pounds per square inch.  <br />
<br />
The handle is attached to a first-class lever.  We know the formula for<br />
determining the required effort is L/l = R/E where L is the length of<br />
the effort arm, l the length of the resistance arm, R resistance and E<br />
effort (or in our case, the required force).  The length of the arms of<br />
my toilet lever is L = 2.5", l = 8".  We know the resistance is .1625<br />
psi, and the area of the cap is 4 square inches, so .1625*4 = .65 pounds<br />
of resistance.  2.5/8 = .65/E, so the required effort is 2.08 pounds.<br />
<br />
Notice that this system is working at a mechanical disadvantage.  This<br />
means it would be easier to pull the cap up by hand than use the lever.<br />
Why?  So that we can have a handy lever on the outside and not get<br />
dirty!<br />
<br />
-- Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:25 -0500 <br />
			]]></description>
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		<item>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:43 -0500</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 4, Race Results</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080226_1204065633.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080226_1204065633.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 4, Race Results<br />
<br />
<embed src="http://e-sa.org/itp/mechanisms/mousetrapracing.mov" width="320" height="240" autoplay="false" loop="false" controller="true" pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/"></embed><br />
<br />
The results are in!<br />
<br />
-- Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:43 -0500 <br />
			]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:00 -0500</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 4, Mousetrap Car</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080218_1203378880.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080218_1203378880.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 4, Mousetrap Car<br />
<br />
<table><tr><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080217-074440.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080217-074440.jpg'></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080217-074927.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080217-074927.jpg'></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080217-075111.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080217-075111.jpg'></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080217-085752.jpg&path=2008/2'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080217-085752.jpg'></a><br />
</td></tr></table><br />
<br />
Tymm Twillman and I teamed up to make mousetrap car!  Before doing any<br />
research he had an excellent idea of how to build one.  First we checked<br />
out a lego kit for wheels and shafts.  In order to attach the wheels to<br />
the mousetrap we fashioned shaft covers (removing all excess wood to<br />
reduce friction).  Through a hole in the shaft cover we wrapped<br />
monofilament around the shaft, so the energy stored in the mousetrap<br />
torque spring transfered to the wheel via a pulling motion.<br />
<br />
A rudimentary use of the pulley, I believe.  In the beginning we only<br />
had wheels on the back, so the front created too much drag for it to go<br />
10 feet.  After adding wheels to the front our mousetrap car is ready to<br />
cruise!<br />
<br />
-- Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:00 -0500 <br />
			]]></description>
		</item>
		<item>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:34 -0500</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 3, Gears and Bearings</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080212_1202837011.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080212_1202837011.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 3, Gears and Bearings<br />
<br />
<table><tr><td align='center'><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080210-102203.jpg&path=2008/2&order=&num=18'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080210-102203.jpg'></a></td><td align='center'><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080212-100921.jpg&path=2008/2&order=&num=19'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080212-100921.jpg'></a></td><td align='center'><a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080213-015234.jpg&path=2008/2&order=&num=20'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008//THUMBN/20080213-015234.jpg'></td></tr></table><br />
<br />
More yummy reading from <u>Designing Cost-Efficient Mechanisms</u>.  Actually,<br />
this time around I thought <u>Basic Machines and How They Work</u> was much<br />
more interesting.  In Mechanism's, unless it's detailing how machines work in<br />
terms of MinCD, Kamm tends to gloss over the details entirely.  Basic Machines,<br />
on the other hand, while dry, has wonderful detail and equations on how<br />
machines work, the mechanical advantage, and so on.  I mean, how can you beat<br />
their description of the Bourdon, Diaphragm gauge in 9-4?  <br />
Remember, T.M.A. = # of teeth driven divided by # of teeth on the driver gear.<br />
<br />
For my wearables project I am on the search for a small motor.  Dustyn<br />
recommended electric tooth brushes so I took apart a Oral-B Pulsar and a Crest<br />
SpinBrush Pro-Clean.  The Oral-B has a smaller forum factor, one AAA battery<br />
and a small pager motor.  The pager motor is on the top of the parts photo<br />
above.  The rest of those parts are from the Crest Pro-Clean which users a<br />
brush motor, two AA's, and a gear mechanism to provide a piston motion which<br />
drives the spinning of the brush.  Neat!  The pager motor is the better choice,<br />
but I can't get the weight off...<br />
<br />
-- Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:34 -0500 <br />
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		<item>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:20 -0500</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 2, Lego's and MinCD</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080205_1202248840.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080205_1202248840.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 2, Lego's, MinCD and CAD<br />
<br />
<table><tr><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080205-081507.jpg&path=2008/2&order=&num=6'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080205-081507.jpg'></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080205-082234.jpg&path=2008/2&order=&num=7'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080205-082234.jpg'></a><br />
</td></tr></table><br />
<br />
Marios, Marlon and I went to task and built a Lego crane.  Those kits are<br />
really well designed.  I liked how Lego made it easy to switch between manual<br />
or motor raising of the crane load.  The brake for the gear, to make sure it<br />
rotated only in one direction, was quite nice.  My favorite example of minimum<br />
constraint design (MinCD) was probably the way the crane string was looped<br />
through wheels.  First you placed the string loop through an opening in the<br />
wheel, then you place a rod through the middle of the wheel effectively<br />
preventing the string from pulling out.  Kamm's reading in <u>Designing<br />
Cost-Efficient Mechanisms</u> was also fascinating.  Particularly his<br />
description of MinCD in the solder rest (page 9) and the large storage and<br />
retrieval robot (page 26).  I had no idea the Calder's mobile was based on a<br />
whiffletree.  Right after we finished the crane Todd distracted us with a laser<br />
printer he was dismantling... we promptly stripped it of motors and other<br />
interesting parts...<br />
<br />
<table><tr><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080205-092554.jpg&path=2008/2&order=&num=8'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080205-092554.jpg'></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080205-092607.jpg&path=2008/2&order=&num=9'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080205-092607.jpg'></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href='http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080205-092811.jpg&path=2008/2&order=&num=10'><img border=0 src='/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080205-092811.jpg'></a><br />
</td></tr></table><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.qcad.org/">QCad</a><br />
<br />
I tried the QCad community version for Linux.  A package had already been<br />
prepared, so I didn't have to mess with compiling from source.  The community<br />
version is free for use, and you are able to save in the following formats:<br />
<br />
- Drawing Exchange DXF 2000<br />
- Drawing Exchange DXF R12<br />
- Font<br />
- bmp, jpg, pbm, pgm, png, ppm, xbm, xpm<br />
<br />
It didn't seem that intuitive to use... but the interface was simple so<br />
a tutorial and a couple of days of use would probably do wonders.<br />
<br />
-- Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:20 -0500 <br />
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		<item>
			<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:23 -0500</pubDate>
			<title>Mechanisms, Week 1, Goldberg Machine</title>
			<link>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080127_1201461320.txt</link>
			<guid>http://e-sa.org/data/view?fn=20080127_1201461320.txt</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[

Mechanisms and Things That Move<br />
Week 1, Goldberg Machine<br />
<br />
<table><tr><td><br />
<a href=http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080127-040635.jpg&path=2008/1&order=&num=92><img border=0 src=http://e-sa.org/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080127-051821.jpg></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href=http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080127-062928.jpg&path=2008/1&order=&num=92><img border=0 src=http://e-sa.org/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080127-062928.jpg></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href=http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080127-094109.jpg&path=2008/1&order=&num=92><img border=0 src=http://e-sa.org/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080127-094109.jpg></a><br />
</td><td><br />
<a href=http://e-sa.org/photos/albums/view?view=20080127-094144.jpg&path=2008/1&order=&num=92><img border=0 src=http://e-sa.org/photos/2008/THUMBN/20080127-094144.jpg></a><br />
</td></tr></table><br />
<br />
Marios, Marlon and I worked together to make a Goldberg Machine.  It had to<br />
include five energy transfers, which are:<br />
<br />
1. fan spins wheel<br />
2. wheel hits block<br />
3. block pulls string<br />
4. lever triggers mouse trap<br />
5. mouse trap cuts string<br />
<br />
which drops the glass and crushes the egg.  Our contraption definitely leaves<br />
the majority of the egg at the bottom with almost no shell.<br />
<br />
<embed src="http://e-sa.org/itp/mechanisms/mech_week1.mov" width="320" height="240" autoplay="false" loop="false" controller="true" pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/"></embed><br />
<br />
-- Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:23 -0500 <br />
			]]></description>
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