Cutting Platform and mechanism
- This was the first sub-assembly we put together.
- The platform, links, supports, and quarter-turn wheel were all laser-cut
- The black piece of acrylic was put on the cutting platform so the bread would be elevated and easier to cut.
The sides or "bread blockers" we glued down (using an acrylic solvent) to ensure proper positioning of the bread; also so the bread wouldn't move around.
- The links were put together using shoulder screws and acrylic spacers.
- We used lock nuts to ensure that the assembly would not become loosened as it rotated around.
- We used bevel gears to transfer the motion and drive the cutting mechanism
- A metal/acrylic epoxy to fasten the gears to the metal shafts
Figure 1: Cutting Platform (showing cutting wheel, elevation platform, and bread blockers)
Figure 2: Top view of Cutting Platform
Figure 3: 4-Bar Cutting linkage
Figure 4: Bevel Gears
Geneva Mechanism
- The driving wheel of our Geneva mechanism was constructed using an FDM 3D printer. It was secured to the vertical shaft with 1/4" collars and 2-part epoxy.
- The quarter-turn component of the Geneva mechanism was laser-cut from 3/8" clear acrylic and secured to the adjacent shaft in the same manner.
Figure 5: Top view of Geneva Mechanism
Figure 6: Front view of Geneva Mechanism