Team 8: Design Process

We decided to use wood, 3D printing, and VEX parts to construct our mechanism. Wood is a sturdy material and can be made into certain shapes using a laser cutter. The parts created from 3D printing allowed to use have intricate components needed for our design with our own measurements. For stability and connecting the components together, we decided to use VEX parts since they have a modular design, a variety of parts, and are durable. 

For the stamping mechanism to function properly, we decided to incorporate a 6-bar mechanism. A 6-bar mechanism is versatile, durable, and is efficient for implementing precise movement with a configured location of impact. Wood was a great material for the linkages to create the 6-bar mechanism along with using screws and bolts. To secure the linkages together, we used a double-bolt method was used with using screws, bolts, and a spacer. The image below shows the components used. 

To make the stamping portion of the mechanism to stamp, we first thought to use a Geneva mechanism as it contains a motion and a incremental one. After laser cutting the parts of a Geneva mechanism, we realized it would not fit well  with the other components for attaching the linkages to the Geneva. We decided the best method was to implement a slip gear for it could move the conveyor belt continuously and provide a sequential movement of the linkages. The slip gear was made by sanding off teeth from a gear leaving the other teeth for the linkages to move in a sequential matter. 

For the conveyor belt, we thought about using a piece of fabric or a thin layered belt, but the material would have to be modified in order to fit precisely. We instead used VEX parts to create the conveyor belt along with using a VEX base plate to hold the whole mechanism together. In addition VEX gears were used to help maneuver the conveyor belt along with the slip gear.