Hand-Powered Screw Compound Machine

My original notes, sketches, code, and reflections, in the order I documented them. Original write-up ↗

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Introduction:

Project name – Hand Powered Screw Compound Machine

Group Members Names – Luca Piekarski, Peter Krosniak, Michael Algrihm

Define the Problem:

A screwdriver is normally a device that is used to screw and unscrew screws. Screwing and unscrewing screws by hand can be inefficient and not very precise. Our teams design is an attempt to make screwing and unscrewing screws easier, but also more efficient. We accomplish this by utilizing gear trains, wheel and axles, and wedges.

Generate Concepts:

The parts we can use in our final design are listed below:

12 tooth gear

36 tooth gear

12 inch axle shaft

Two 2 inch axle shafts

2 Metal gearboxes

Two 2 inch bearing blocks

1 x 5 x 25 Aluminum Plate

5 x 15 Steel plate

Custom 1.5 inch Screw

Develop a Solution:

Construct and Test a Prototype:

Evaluate Solution:

Conclusion Questions:

1. For which mechanism was it the easiest to determine the mechanical advantage or drive ratio? Why was it the easiest?

• The wheel and axles. Because they both had easy to work with numbers and the math was very straightforward.

1. For which mechanism was it the most difficult to determine the mechanical advantage or drive ratio? Why was it the most difficult?

• The wedge because in class we never really practiced it. Also, when I was creating the screw I used random numbers and I just eyeballed it. So the numbers were not easy to work with.

1. What modifications could you make to your compound machine to make it more mechanically efficient?

• Using a bigger secondary gear and smaller primary gear would make it more mechanically efficient.