Mousetrap Challenge - 2.5: Iteration 2 Progress Update
As happens with many time-pressed projects, our end product does deviate rather significantly with our original plan.
To begin with, the launching system I was responsible for has been scaled back to not include a ramp as a manufactured sloped piece was not sourced in time and 3D printing one would be uneconomical and impossible as the print base is too small to to include the inclined extension. Admittedly, the ramp could've been printed separately but it was deemed unnecessary. On the bright side, the launching system without a ramp that was printed turned out successful and perfectly fit the mousetrap's dimensions.
As for the train, it is yet to be completed and will be worked on during our final preparatory class on Monday. The wheels have been printed and seem to work well with paperclips as axles despite my concern the 3D printer would not be fine enough. The body of the train is my only disappointment. The original Japanese maglev-shaped design required meshes to model its sloped surface which none of us knew how to proficiently manipulate. Instead, the design is now a hollow brick with a chamfered (diagonally cut-off) leading edge. It is currently being printed and we will know whether the wheels and tracks can fit on Monday.
Thanks for the report, Jason. I like the honesty of your reflection. You seem to have a good handle on why certain aspects of your design have not come together as originally planned which means that you typically know what you could do to overcome those obstacles in the future. I wonder, and this is not just you and your group, what we can do to identify these obstacles earlier in the process, come to a decision as to whether they are worth the investment to overcome, and keep the essential parts of the design in our final product.
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