Semester Project Spring 1997

This semester you will develop component and assembly drawings for a "second generation", dynamic wind tunnel model. The wind tunnel model will be used as a demonstration / research model and is intended for use in the Hessert Center Atmospheric Wind Tunnel. This simple "basic finner" model will possess pitch, yaw and roll degrees of freedom. You will be provided with "schematic" drawings for the model from which you will be responsible for developing component and assembly drawings of the complete system. The system has four major subassemblies:

1. Missile body

2. Nose

3. Tail section with "adjustable" fins

4. Support sting and dynamic pitch-yaw-roll mechanism

Most of the components will be fabricated in the Hessert Center shop by the shop technician using detailed component drawings which you provide. You will have the opportunity to observe the fabrication of certain selected components. This will allow you the chance to observe a variety of component fabrication processes. The nose section will be molded using plastic epoxy and you will design and fabricate the mold using the CAM workcell in Fitzpatrick Hall. The class will then assemble the complete model and demonstrate its operation in the wind tunnel. The wind tunnel model project will continue through most of the semester. Additional details on the project phases and some important dates follow.

1. Support System Detailed Part Definition, Fabrication and Assembly - drawings of each component of the 3-DOF support system are to be developed by each member of the class from "sketches" provided by a design engineer. [Detailed component drawings and assembly drawings should be complete by Mar. 3] - these parts will be fabricated in the Hessert shop and then evaluated by the class for tolerances and other design issues. [Target date for part fabrication is Mar. 19 and evaluation will take place in class after that date.]

2. Missile Model Design - each student will design and develop drawings for the nose, missile body, tail and fin assembly which will mate to the dynamic support system [Due Mar. 26]

3. Assemble Completed Model - each student will do a digital assembly of their support stand and the missile body, tail and nose - a single assembly drawing will be prepared and submitted. [ Due by end of the semester ]

4. CAM mold fabrication - Missile Nose - each student will design and part detail a "mold" for the missile nose. The nose will be molded from epoxy using a "spin" or rotational modling technique. Each student will be responsible for developing and preparing "hand" sketches of the fixture for fabricating a part from their mold. [ Due by April 9] - tool paths for a selected mold will be developed and a mold will be machined on the CAM workcell in Fitz. [ by April 16] - the part will be fabricated in the Hessert shop and mated to the wind tunnel model and evaluated in class

5. Rapid Prototyping - Wing rib - each student will develop a detailed part drawing for a "to be determined" part and this part will be formed using the rapid prototyping FDM machine. [April 25]

6. Model Demonstration - a demonstration of the completed wind tunnel model in the Hessert Center Atmospheric tunnel will be performed. Last class day, April 30.