7.1 Dimensioning

This unit was fairly simple, but rewarding nonetheless. In this, I had to dimension different 3D models based on different dimensioning standards. Examples of these standards included datum and chain dimensioning, and aligned dimensioning.

Maker Faire Research: Elite Dangerous

Elite:Dangerous is a space combat and trading open-world simulator. It was developed by a company called Frontier Developments, and designed by David Braben. Unable to secure funding through an established games publisher, Braben launched a Kickstarter campaign, and was able to raise over 1.5 million pounds sterling. Elite:Dangerous is the fourth game in the Elite series. The first Elite game was released for the BBC Micro in 1984, and was widely praised for its advanced graphics and game engine. This game is intriguing to me because it combines space and open-world gameplay, along with a vast procedurally-generated galaxy to explore.

Automoblox Reverse Engineering Instant Challenge

For the instant challenge we attempted to build a propeller. The main, glaring problems with our design were that the propeller was badly constructed and failed to turn, let alone provide enough force to move, and the wheels were extremely wobbly and did not support the weight of the vehicle.

Reverse Engineering Reflection Post

Visual design is extremely important when determining the commercial appeal of a product because our primary information-gathering sense is our vision. Shapes in visual design such as circles, lines, and curves represent human concepts such as comfort, and guide the user towards an intuitive understanding of how a product works. Visual design values like color and balance also appeal to or influence a user.

A black box represents the system being studied-although we do not know exactly how it works, we analyze the outputs given from inputs fed into it as a means of discerning its inner workings.

 I would build onto the modularity of the Automoblox cars and have new, realistic parts such as suspensions, or perhaps an engine unit.

Automoblox Reverse Engineering

Product: X9-SE

Manufacturer: Automoblox

Visual Analysis

Front view

Side view

Isometric views

This car uses significant amounts of curves in order to imply a sense of balance and economy. The textured wood conveys sturdiness, while the complementary red and black highlight the wheels and emphasize the overall curved shape. The wheels have a rubbery texture which grips any surface well.

Functional Analysis

The primary function of this object is to simulate an actual car by rolling on a surface.

3a. The axle is shaped so that the wheel rotates within a thin diameter bit in the middle, but is kept from popping off by larger bits of the axle on either side. 

3b. Our hypothesis was correct.

Structural Analysis

Automoblox CAD Drawings

I got as far as the second model(Figure 1), but I did not complete it. I completed Figure 2 with some difficulty, and overall it was a learning experience.

I most struggled with the unintuitive controls and contexts of Inventor, and its various idiosyncrasies.

What was easy for me was everything else-it was, complications aside, fairly straightforward.

The only thing I would like is more time on Inventor so that I can get used to its control scheme.

Design Challenge: Shelter

My partner, Matt, and I designed a shelter using the materials of 2.5 inch long toothpicks, and Dots gumdrops. We wanted our shelter to be able to withstand extreme force from all directions, so we constructed it out of triangles. Those triangle distribute load evenly, preventing any one part of the structure from collapsing. The surface area of our shelter would be around 37.94 inches squared. Assuming that humans would need comfortable space to stand, we estimate that in real life, this shelter would have an area of around 341.01 feet squared. Ideally, the shelter would be constructed out of concrete reinforced with steel spars where the toothpicks are now.

First, we tested our initial design with a wallet. The shelter held up easily. However, the point made it hard to balance things on for testing, and weakened the structure as a whole. In response, we took of the top bit and found that it could withstand a textbook.

The shelter was able to withstand a weight that was many dozens of times more than it. Therefore, we pronounce this design a complete success.