Project Overview

This year, I’ve been working on a series of small, focused projects that all contribute to a larger goal, of designing and building an ornithopter. Each task helped me learn new skills in 3D design, prototyping, and engineering, all leading to my final concept.

Design 1

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This prototype was my first attempt. I where I over complicate it. When I started building, I wanted to create a grand, complex project. As I designed it, I realized it had too many moving parts, and I needed to scale back the complexity.

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If you look at it from this angle, I was trying to take an entire weight onto a way too small wheel. What I did after learning about this was redesign this entire part to make it much simpler. I then switch to a more module approach which you see in my render.

Gear Box Design 2

This was my next idea of converting a rotation movement to a liner movement. I wanted to use a scotch yoke for this design. However, when I started working on it there were too many moving designs and I shifted gears to work on a different design.

My next design I went for a half and half approach. Some of the design were made out of arcrylic and some of the design were made out of resin. From that I was able to conclude that this design was the best for strength. The goal of this was to be more simple and have less moving parts.

Conclusion

With this project, I made vast improvements from where I started. I planned to have a working prototype done before the end of school, but I was unsuccessful with my goal. However, I have started the building stage. Currently, right now, I am building the gearbox, and I am happy to say that the gearbox is working as intended.

Overall, I’m proud of my work this year. I didn’t fully meet my goals, through this project was not a successful the engineering values I learn, especially about scale, scope, and iterative prototyping showed the process of engeering. I’m excited to keep developing the project over the summer.