Design Challenge
matthewghilarducci
Entry ID #: 4142
Created: Wed, Jan 11, 2017 10:57 PM
Team 7983W 90 Degree Hinge Introduction & Explanation: We developed the 90 degree hinge in order to allow a better alternative to be used over other methods used to constrain a scoop lift to give the lift a competitive chance.This part would allow robotics team using the scoop lift to utilize this part to not only have an effective hinge mechanism for their robot, but also a hinge mechanism that takes up very little space compared to all other designs. The way this would be attached to a robot’s lift is by either using 45 degree gussets, or 90 degree gussets to attach the 90 degree hinge to the side of the lift’s C-channels. Development process: To create this assembly in CAD Autodesk Inventor 2016 Educational Version, I first had to use a dial caliper to find all of the dimensions of the standard hinge assembly. Once I found those, created three standard parts (.ipt’s). The first was the cylinder in which the hinge would rotate upon. The second drawing would be what we considered to be the upper portion of the hinge. The third drawing would be the would be what we considered to be the lower portion of the hinge. To create to the cylinder, we created a simple circle on the XZ plane that would loosely fit in the slots of the other hinge parts. We then extruded it to the necessary length to fit perfectly in the the hinge slots (lengthwise). To create the lower hinge part, we created a sketch of a rectangle. We then extruded the rectangle to the exact width of the hinge design. We then created the side view of the hinge, along with our additional feature of a small beam like piece of metal that would go where the slots for the cylinder meet the face of the part on the small face of the rectangle using the “new sketch” feature of Inventor. You would then extrude away the excess material, as well as the material where the slots would go. After that you would create a new sketch on the face of the hinge where you would add a hole and the other features. After this you would extrude away the excess material and use a “copy and extend” feature to create the necessary square gaps for screws from just the one square hole. To create the upper hinge, you would go through the exact same steps, only the addition to the standard hinge design wouldn’t be a small beam in between the slots and the face; but rather an extension from the slot that is not only parallel to the hinge’s face, facing the opposite direction of the face, but is also long enough to come in contact with the small metal beam on the lower hinge. Conclusion: This project showed our group how even the smallest aspects of a machine matter in how it functions. I plan on using Inventor in robotics later on as it has proven to be an effective method of expressing my ideas about our team’s robot.