This week, our Mechanical sub-team came up with a new design for the probe structure, release mechanism, and speed control mechanism. At the general meeting on Monday, we received various suggestions from other members of CanSat that give us better insights on how to improve the overall design.

Pros of the current design: The design is easy to manufacture with the U-shape frames and plates designed using the measurement of the aluminum metal bar (3/4in, 1/8in, 48in) that Bryan, our Mechanical team member, found at home depot. The U-shape frames can be produced by bending or heat treatment of the aluminum bar. The plus-shaped plates can be cut from sheet metal and bolted to the frame using an L-bracket at each end.

Cons of the current design: In order to carry out the release mechanism, we need to a strong servo (44 grams). This weight of the servo, even before accounting the weight of the wires, is already nearly 10% of the maximum allowable weight of the probe. In addition, there is a high chance that the top component of the heat shield will not fall off the probe after it is unlocked.

Solution/Suggestion: Our teammates suggested adding a spring into the design to eject the top of the heat shield off of the probe after it is unlocked. Emi, our Mechanical team lead, is also looking into an electromagnetic release mechanism for the probe. This option allows us to accomplish the task with much lighter weight compared to the mechanical release mechanism, and to manufacture the shield in two halves that can easily split apart.

We plan to have a complete design for the probe with the optimized heat shield, release, and speed control mechanisms by the fall design review.

– Bryan Nguyen
CanSat Mechanical Team Member