Pre-Testing Modifications
During manufacturing the radio shuttle, some subtle alterations had to be made to the model to avoid any potential issues. However, on the whole very few issues were met and testing was able to be undertaken quickly, speaking to the overall good design of the radio shuttle.
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The main issue which arose during the manufacture of the radio shuttle surrounded the motor supports for both the drive and lift motor (particularly the lift motor). It was noted once the lift motor had been secured to the radio shuttle base, the motor would actually make contact with the lift shaft when in operation. A solution was proposed where new holes would be drilled low enough in the existing motor support that when the motor was secured again, no contact would be made with the lift shaft. Although this may have reduced the security of the motor with less material supporting it, the team believed the material was thick enough to still perform acceptably. A new support could have been manufactured quickly if this was not the case anyway.
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Furthermore, the height of the supports would have interfered with a lid or body to enclose the shuttle, therefore a few centimetres were sawed off the top of each support so that the shafts were the highest component of the radio shuttle.
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Reducing the height of the holes on the supports presented a further problem however. The pulley drum could not fit over the 12mm screw heads at the base of the motor support and therefore the motor could not be completely secured. Flathead screws of the same diameter were not available so it was decided to file the current screws and the pulley was subsequently able to be fixed appropriately. This was the most efficient solution and the motor was held to the base plate the same as previously.
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The deformation of the base plate and resultant accuracy issues regarding the positioning of this base frame were deemed insignificant to warrant modification by the team. A sheet of metal to reinforce the base plate was sourced as a precaution though.
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