This too shall pass.

An example of an extremely well planned out Rube Goldberg machine is OkGo's This too shall pass video.
Their machine was designed by the band along with a group of over 50 engineers from top engineering schools around the country.
The entire project took about two months to complete.
You can see OkGo's This too shall pass video below.




Today I researched different examples of Rube Goldberg machines. This machine i found was an excellent example of incorporating different types of items to make the machine function. This research has given me different ideas to put into our machine, and I will continue looking for other ideas.

Keeping up to date

This week I worked on my testing procedures, alternate solutions, and specs and limits. I finalized how they are layed out and uploaded them to the blog. I also took all my research which I did over the summer and uploaded it all on here.

Alternate Solutions

                                                    Photo of an isometric view of a possible solution.

                                    Picture of an Orthographic view of a possible solution.

This first alternate solution is a 4'x4'x2' box made of wood. Inside it there are many small systems, both mechanical and hydraulic. On the upper left hand corner, there is the coin retrieval and storage device. In a row along the top, we have our Ice, Sugar, Lemon and water tanks. They all house the key items which will become the end product. At the bottom right corner of the box, we have the opening for the Lemonade, as well as space available for the hydraulic and electric components of this machine. Finally, at the bottom left of the machine, we have the space available for the many small mechanical systems being incorporated.  With this machine, we are trying to appeal to different companies and individuals.  A way to do this is to try and design it like a conventional vending machine or make it as eye catching as possible.  The above system has the appearance and atmosphere that a customer would look for when trying to attain a product.  Overall the above system presents itself in an attractive and inviting manner that will appeal to all customers as well as fulfill the needs of the owner of the machine.

                                             Photo of an isometric view of an alternate solution.

                                     Picture of an Orthographic view of a possible solution.


This alternate solution is a different approach from the first. The entire top of the machine is now taken up by a water tank. The entire left side is taken up by all hydraulic and electrical systems, and the right side is taken up by all the mechanical systems. The area where the lemonade is dispensed has now been centered on the machine. Above that, there is a three chambered basin which houses the ice, lemonade and sugar. The coin collecting device is now moved to the right side of the machine as well.  Again as like before, we wanted to design this to be more presentable to customers.  We changed the position of where the drink comes out to make it more like a vending machine. 


The reason why none of the systems are in full detail yet are because we don't know what supplies we have. Once we go to the junk yard and hunt for our parts, we will know exactly what we are working with. Then once we have a parts list, we can create a final design together on the best way we can tackle this problem.  Within the next month or so, my parter and I are going to go to a dump and try and attain parts which will be used inside the system.  Once we have these parts, we will be able to assemble this machine and create new diagrams which acurately depict them.

Specifications and Limitations

Specifications:
• Must run on a single quarter.
• Must produce at least one cup of lemonade.
• Must include all three types of systems (Mechanical, Electrical and Hydraulic).
• Must look both appealing and inviting.
• Incorporate a way so the user can see inside the machine to observe the systems working.
• Must be easy to move systems around inside the machine so there is always flexibility.
• Must be able to be easily reset.
• Must use water to power part of the machine.
• Must coincide with partners part of the project.

Limitations:
• From start to finish the machine can not take more than 45 seconds.
• Must fit into a 6’x6’x6’ area.
• Must not cost more than $500 to produce.
• Must take only a quarter, not any other coin.
• Cannot use more than 12 volts of power.

Background Information

The situation:
Currently, many store owners are trying to find ways to attract more attention to their shops. In addition, many individuals want to add a little spice to their lives and want a more enjoyable experience at home. Store owners usually turn to purchasing large TV’s, game stations, play houses, and other expensive items to try and draw more attention to their store. We will be designing and constructing a Rube Goldberg Machine which will produce one cup o lemonade. This machine will be both appealing and revenue generating, fulfilling the requirements of both the store owner and the customer.
                                    
               Picture by: antiquegumball.com  Photo of an exciting and inviting gumball dispenser.
The people involved:
This machine can and will be used by a wide variety of people. A store owner can use this in his environment in order to draw in more customers as well as increase revenue. An individual can also purchase this machine for entertainment purposes at home, in addition to allowing them to get a refreshing beverage in the comfort of their own home. Any engineer could also use this machine as a building block for future projects, taking the systems we have incorporated into our machine and expanding on them in order to create bigger and better machines.
             
                       

                          Picture by: rubegoldberg.com  Photo of a traditional Rube Goldberg postcard
Reasons for project:
Not only is this machine necessary for store owners and individuals, but also for the future engineers and designers of the world. This project allows students to fully understand and expand their knowledge of systems working together. It also increases their knowledge of hydraulics, electricity, and mechanical systems. With this knowledge they have opened the doors for many future projects. They also can now take this project to new levels, expanding on it and creating it something not just a few people can use, but the whole world can use.
               
                         
                           Picture by: rubegoldberg.com  Photo of a traditional Rube Goldberg postcard.

Overall appeal of the project:
We want this machine to look both inviting, and enjoyable. We want it so if someone comes up to this machine, they will be interested and intrigued, as they observe all the intricate systems working together in unison. For the project to give off a good vibe see through screens, flashing lights and many other systems will be incorporated in order to attract customers.
                       
                         Picture by: rubegoldberg.com  Photo of a traditional Rube Goldberg postcard.

Similar Projects:
There are many different kinds of Rube Goldbergs out there. Some are made for pure entertainment purposes, like the common game Mouse Trap®. Most are designed for some kind of project, or small individual goal, but the machine we wish to make will affect many different audiences. People have created machines to collect water, turn on lights, get the mail, and walk the dog and many more. The possibilities are simply endless.

                                        
                            Photo by: reason.com  Photo of the traditional Rube Goldberg game; Moustrap.

Testing Procedures

It's obvious this machine will not work perfectly the first few times. To make sure the machine works properly and according to plan, testing procedures must be conducted. While assessing each individual component, the list below of things to check will be followed:
1. Make sure the system works without fail.
2. Make sure the system works with other systems it will be co-operating with.
3. Make sure the system fits into its allocated space and does not prevent any other systems from working.
4. Make sure the overall appearence of the system compliments the other systems around it (not a different color, not to big, etc...)

If problems are encountered while testing, the following questionaire will provide insight on how to solve or assess the problem:
1. If the system didn't work, why not? What went wrong?
2. If it takes up too much room, is there any way to make it smaller or can you fit it elsewhere?
3. If the systems that are working together don't operate properly, is there any way to move them around to other areas so they work and carry out there job?
4. Did the machine complete it's overall task?
5. Did the machine look appealing and would you find it as a practical solution?

These two checklists are guidelines in order to make the production of the completed machine easier and more efficient. This will need to be done many times in order to make sure everything is working properly, as well as addressing problems early on.

Moving Along

An electronic coin counter was acquired today. My partner also has a coin collector in his possesion. This is the kind of counter you traditionally find on gumball machines. With these two devices, we will be able to record how many cups of lemonade have been purchased, as well as making sure only quarters are accepted in the machine.

Figuring out the Blog

Today I spent most of the class figuring out how to work the blog and add things. I also decided on an overall theme and color arangement for the blog. I have decided to go with a different color theme for each post in order to try to make the blog more appealing to viewers.

Design Brief

Group Design Brief:
To design and create a coin operated Rube Goldberg Machine which will produce 1 cup of lemonade to a customer. The machine will be used in any environment during all times of the year.  


Individual Design Brief:
Design all the mechanical parts of the machine, the structure of the machine, as well as provide input on electrical components. 

Summer Research

This research is all the research I did over the summer. Since then it has been expanded on and re-evaluated. It was the building block for what I now have, and gave me a good jump-start on the year.

Background Information-

A Rube Goldberg device is a deliberately over-engineered machine that performs a very simple task in a very complex fashion, usually including a chain reaction. To make a seemingly simple task, filling a glass of lemonade, much more complicated, students will design and produce a Rube Goldberg machine to do the job. This is to be designed in order to challenge the minds of students and provide instances of thinking “outside the box”.

To keep with the marine theme, water needs to be implicated throughout the designing of the machine. The water will be used to power it or using it in the systems to create the machine.

Solutions:

See below for possible solutions.

Design Brief-

Design and produce a Rube Goldberg machine which has many small systems making up a larger system. This machine must produce at least one cup of lemonade. It also needs to be designed so it could be realistically used in a shop for resale.

Specifications-

• Produce at least 1 cup of lemonade.

• Apply water as part of at least 2 systems.

• Must use a quarter as a way to start the machine.

• Must incorporate mechanical and electrical components.

• Must be made of a wide variety of items.

Limitations-

• Must take less than 45 seconds to produce the cup of lemonade.

• Must fit into a 4’x4’x4’ area.

• Must take only a quarter, not any other coin.

• Must cost less than $500 to produce the design.

For our Rube Goldberg device, not much can be decided until a final design is reached. Once the final stages of our design process have been completed, we can start to formulate the systems and individual components of the device. We do, however, have ideas for many of the systems of the device. For instance, systems for regulating how much water, sugar, and ice dispense into the final cup will be a hatch which easily opens and closes allowing the materials to flow into the cup. Those systems will be the simplest to design, but the systems which trigger these final systems will be the most complex. In many Rube Goldbergs, things like marbles and mouse traps are used as triggers to start other parts of the device. Creating something like a small marble track or mouse trap switch will be a great addition to the device, as it is simple and easy to implicate. As seen in the picture below, almost all Rube Goldberg devices begin with a rough sketch of how they will appear.

                             Picture by: rubegoldberg.com  Photo of a Rube Goldberg Postcard

In this picture, a diagram including letters or numbers points to a specific system and on the opposite side it describes what the system is and what it contributes to the whole device. During the designing process, we will try to follow this type of planning, trying to keep with the traditional theme, as well as providing an easy to follow diagram.

Until we finish designing the device, we do not know what materials we will use. We plan on going to the local dump and salvaging what materials we can, using as many trinkets and nick-knacks we find. One thing we need in particular is a coin receiver, the kind you find on a traditional gum ball machine. Other parts we need are most likely PVC piping, wood, and electrical wire. We will probably be able to find most of our parts from the dump, and if not, they will cost little to nothing. We hope this project will cost as little as possible.

After finding all our parts, it will be much easier to create the final design for the project. We know how much space something takes up, what its job is, and what else we can use it for. The first task on this job will be locating and acquiring our supplies. Once that happens, the rest of this project will just fall into place.
The aim of this project is to test our mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic engineering skills. With two minds on the team, a lot of ideas will come to our heads, and we will try to make this as interesting a project as possible. Most of the time will go towards designing and testing, because obviously things aren’t going to work perfectly, or we may just have a better idea. I can safely say though that the final project will be a result of all our great engineering and imaginative skills.

Possible Solution 1:

                                    Orthographic view of my first design for the machine.



First post of the blog

And we're blogging!
This is the first post of the year.  Today we created our individual blogs, and we formatted them to our liking, customizing them as much as we want.  Here you can see all that i've done in customizing my blog.  I hope you enjoy!