March 25, 2010
The team was formed. 104-02 Sarah Zinamon, AJ Chatterjee, Amr Refaat, Matthew Cohen
We had our first brainstorming session. The ideas we had are listed below:
3D chutes and ladders with mechanical lift 3D puzzle small basketball hoop that moves in and out, or the circumferance of the hoop changes table top foosball 3D scrabble board game with a spinning base, sling shot to shoot piece at player, who tries to catch it, goal: to catch the most pieces in a cup 3D revolving battleship game.
April 1, 2010
We initially were really keen on a 3D chutes and ladders game with a mechanical lift, but after a while we realized the impossibility of completing that within a time span of a month and keeping it within a 10 x 10 x 10 inch cube. We then focused more on the foosball idea, and felt the idea would be relevant because of the upcoming World Cup. Yet our concept needed some development. We were thinking of a triangular 3 person foosball game, but realized that the bars for each person would be a problem, they would have to be at different heights for them not to hit each other. We also thought of making the base able to tilt up and down or left and right, but we realized that this would most likely break our design. We also thought about using MDF and press fitting to make the game as well as metal rods. Initially, we thought we would 3D print people, but then realized that they might not be that durable.
We then reached what would be our final idea. We would make a foosball type ski ball kind of game. The main box would be press fit MDF with an acrylic base. There would be two rods, one for each player. The players would spin the rods, try to hit the ball, and it would ricochet off the front wall and go up a ramp on the back wall. This ramp would have various holes in it with different point values. The players' objectives are to score points as well as try to block the opponent from scoring. We drew a rough initial solidworks model which is uploaded as a picture entitled "Initial SolidWorks model from April 1." Open the files with Windows Picture Viewer; they are jpg files.
April 3, 2010
We met with our MEAM 150 partner, Timothy Hennelly. We told him that we would need him to make the rods, a way for the paddles to attach to the rods, and later in the process cut some rubber stock for us. He told us that was all feasible and he could do it. He also helped us come up with a way to attach the paddles to the rod. He helped us order the right kind of sleeves to reduce the friction between the rod and the MDF. We ordered brass sleeves and it seems like we have the means to create the project.
April 8, 2010
We came up with more SolidWorks files and decided upon which types of ball we should use. We also added a steel plate to the front wall, thinking it would be better for the ball to bounce off metal. Tim made this piece for us, but we later scrapped it because the rubber balls we later ordered worked well with MDF. We all decided it would be best to make our individual enclosures for the press fit assignments as test trials before we started to cut our box for the game. The picture files of the SolidWorks files for the sides of our box, the ramp, and the assembly are uploaded entitled "101-104-02-FileName." Open the files with Windows Picture Viewer; they are jpg files.
April 15, 2010
This week we came up with an official final parts list of the materials: 1/4" MDF for the sides, 1/8" red acrylic for the ramp, 1/4" smoke acrylic for the base. We also ordered from Mcmaster: rubber balls, bronze sleeves, and Silicone mold to smooth the transition from the ramp to the base. The project seems to be going on schedule.
April 21, 2010
We cut the smoke base today as well as a preliminary ramp and a few MDF sides. We are still in the process of trying to get the right press fit we need. We also cut a few rackets with different attachment methods (screw-in and press-fit) of dimensions to find out which attachment method/dimension would be most effective.
April 22, 2010
All our parts from Mcmaster have arrived and Tim made the rods with the attachment for the rackets.
April 23, 2010
After some issues with the laser cutter among other things, and after many hours of blood, sweat, and tears, our box is finally cut and is quite snugly press-fit together. The bronze sleeves are in the sides and it seems good.
April 24, 2010
The box has the rods in place, the rackets are working, but we might change them. Right now each rod has a different type of racket. One is screwed onto the rod and is the shape of a person, another is press fit and looks like a square. We have our final ramp as well, which we will secure tomorrow morning. At this point the game is playable! Yet we are all excited and anxious to see our final product. Also some pictures are uploaded entitled "101-104-02-FileName." Open the files with Windows Picture Viewer; they are jpg files.
April 25, 2010
Two triangles were dimensioned in Solidworks and laser cut out of red acrylic to support our ramp. Acrylic glue was used to attach the triangular supports to the ramp and then attach the structure to the base. Silicone was used to smooth the transition between the acrylic base and the ramp as well as provide additional support. We rastered an emblem of the South Africa 2010 World Cup to our base along with the creators names to an MDF side. The brochure that we will have accompanying our game was finalized.
April 26, 2010
The festival went well. All the games were pretty cool.