5) Conclusions/Lessons Learned

Conclusions/Lessons Learned

Engaging in this project has provided invaluable lessons that will extend beyond this course. First and foremost, the importance of collaboration and effectively collaborating became evident, as the four of us contributed our distinctive skills and cognitive approaches. Additionally, the iterative nature of the project underscored the significance of adaptability and a willingness to embrace trial and error. Despite this, our final prototype had some shortcomings that we learned from as well. An important factor through iterations was tolerances for press fits, and the different parameters for the different machines, materials, and software. Our build process may have gone much smoother had we planned more meticulously and considered every factor. Furthermore, we gained insights into the significance of strategically coordinating the accessibility of materials and machinery. For instance, devising a plan that aligns with the operational hours of TIW, considering the demand for its facilities from both our peers and other classes, would have proven advantageous for the progression of our build process. Finally, we learned from our final prototype that our linkage was not only a kinematics problem, but also a dynamics problem as referenced in the final prototype section. 

Tips for Future Groups

As previously indicated, future groups are advised to enhance their planning for the tolerances of materials and machinery, meticulously schedule activities around the operational hours and accessibility of TIW, and conscientiously address the dynamic considerations inherent in their linkage mechanisms.  

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our TAs Sid Desai, Ashwin Hingwe, and Victor Guzman and Professor Rohit John Varghese for their support and guidance in our project and analysis. Victor helped us immensely with the build process by getting us Materials, guiding us through TIW facilities, and picking up finished prints for us after hours. Sid and Ashwin provided invaluable assistance in scrutinizing our thought processes and aiding in resolving challenges encountered during both the kinematic analysis and the build process. Finally, Professor Varghese taught us the theory behind our linkage mechanism, kinematic analysis, and gave us the foundation for this project.