January Minutes

Split up into Sub-Groups:

• Machine Shop: Anthony and Eric
  
• Laser Cutting: Alex and Malcolm

Discussed Potential Ideas:

• Cooper student isolated in automata while world around him is amazing
• Orchestra that plays music (drums and strings)
• Frankenstein themed

Decision - Decided on “Cooper student being isolated” idea:

• Worked on ideas for “outside world” of the automata
• Discussed the mechanisms involved for Cooper student's movements
• Discussed how to rotate between different events in “outside world.”

Machine Shop:

• Learned how to use mill

Prototyping Lab:

• Learned about various types of prototyping (wax casting, 3D printing) and assigned to make solidworks model of an item to be printed

Discussed specifics/mechanisms for the automata:

• Student with a desk centers the automata on a small “pedestal”
• Student is enclosed by a building (resembles Cooper Union)
• Outside events rotate around the student
• “Time of day” mechanism
• The “time of day” dictates the event being animated
• Drew preliminary design for student movement
• Drew designs for overall automata movement

Machine Shop:

• Learned how to use lathe to make screws for automata
• Practiced on the mill with scrap piece of aluminum

Prototyping Lab:

• Went over initial solidworks models to be prototyped with the 3D printer
• Received overview of using the Laser Cutter (vector vs. raster) and tried to cut out a circle from a single sheet of paper without cutting the sheet below it
• Assigned to make a display showcasing various methods of joining 2 pieces of plastic

Machine Shop:

• Began making outside block for individual projects

Prototyping Lab:

• Went over various types of 3D printing (FDM, Sintering, Stereolithography)
• Became more familiar with the limitations of prototyping with a non ideal material
• Made aware of the challenges faced when using a CNC machine to produce a prototype