Pelletizer Log

Pelletizer Mockup

March 21, 2014

Media:Base.STL

Media:Bell.STL

Media:Die.STL

Media:Hopper.STL

Media:Roller.STL

March 19, 2014

• Over spring break, a team member will work on assembling pieces together on Solidworks
• We have the rotor mount but it's not assembled yet
• Need to find/create the rotor
• After the rotor mount is assembled, we need to figure out how to connect it to the pelletizer
• Last step is assembling everything else
• Hoping that we'll have it assembled by the end of April at the latest
• Due to midterms, not a lot got done (sadly)

• After Assembly:

  Biggest questions we have so far:

• Is there a heat source for the die?
• The machine gets really hot. Where is this heat coming from?
• Is the friction going to slow things down?
• Should we worry about the thermal coefficient of expansion?

• Especially with our material selection

• Lubrication?

February 26, 2014

• Spoke about design
• Currently, have working Solidworks files of the following:

• roller, the hopper, die, and base

• Next steps:

• Connecting the pelletizer on the rotor
• After designing, we'll working on virtual assembly
• Will talk this week with Professor Leipold for advice on design and materials

February 19, 2014

• Time Table for the next few weeks

• All Basic CAD parts excluding rotor and mount
• Start designing rotor and mount
• Start assemblies and tweak designs
• Assembly Completion

• We currently have a drawing for the die, the hopper and the roller

• Next is the base

• Will be a little difficult, weird geometry

• Rotor is done in Sketch Up, needs to be formed in CAD

• By the end of next week, we should have basic CAD parts

• In 2 weeks, basic assembly?

February 12, 2014

• Questions for Marcin

• Rotating Mechanism: is it the die? The bell? Everything? What is moving?

~Critical Dimensions for die etc.

• Meeting with Marcin

• Rotating Mechanism

-The only thing being driven is the die

Dimensions

-All he has is what is on the pictures right now

-All the development ones are pretty much shown

Clarity

-Design a mount for the rotor

-Rotating the die

-Hopper for pelletizer

-Attach the rotor to some sort of stand

*Same type of set up seen in the trench digger

We found a faculty advisor!

• Professor Leipold

• Joe will meet with her on Thursdays for updates
• As we get more serious, she’ll be meeting with us for more guidance

• Evolve Log

• Opensourceecology.org Wiki
• Track ALL progress

What's Next?

-We can start developing Solidworks drawings

*We have the drawings but we’ll have to remake the files on Solidworks

-We’ll hopefully be able to move ahead with a rough sketch of what we’re looking to do

-Joseph will meet with Leipold tomorrow and talk about our progress

-Rotor- CNC cut plates with notches so everything fit together nicely

-See wiki for details

-Update page tonight, get a quick sketch up, material selection

*Meeting without Marcin

First Steps:

Goal: Dimension entire contraption based off of roller [1]

• Find a roller that is compatible

• Roller:

is approx. 7 inches wheel to wheel[2],

shaft sticks out 1-1/2" on either side[3].

wheels are about 4" in diameter [4]

Total, roller is just under 10"

-The team will meet in the lab at 3:15 PM tomorrow, Thursday, and start to design CAD models