Mechanical Design

Owl Automata

Driven by a single motor and driveshaft, this simulated automata mimics the resting movements of an owl, fluttering the owl’s wings and turning the owl’s head from side to side, as though the bird is readjusting its position. A render video was generated in SolidWorks Motion, and FEA studies and MATLAB calculations were run on the driveshaft, the driving gear, and the driving motor's shaft. In the analyzed system, it is assumed that the drive shaft has been locked and the motor has been stalled, outputting its peak torque of 4.5 lb ft.

Enclosed Scenic Structure

Inspired by my time at the Des Moines Metro Opera, I modeled a wooden scenic unit with a simplified architecture which uses each of the 7 fundamental structures. The weight of all panels except the roof have been deemed negligible, and the roof and its support have been given a combined weight of 200 lbs. To avoid static indeterminacy in calculation, the system was further simplified for the purpose of analysis. In the simplified system, FEA studies, SolidWorks Motion analysis, and MATLAB calculations were run for the roof frame, a U support structure, and an I support structure.

Theatrical Fly System

In technical theatre, scenery is often hung above the stage on counterbalanced set of ropes called a fly system. I have modeled a simple fly system, which uses tension generated by a hanging weight to keep a steel bar suspended above the stage through use of a scaffolded rope and pulley system. The fly system facilitates the balance of a steel bar and its counterweight through a system of ropes and pulleys. Two ropes support the bar, connected by pulleys to ropes strung to the counterweight. The pulleys are held in place by a scaffolding, or "rail". This analysis will focus on one chain of rope-pulley-counterweight force transmission. The components with the highest loads are the pulley, the pulley pin, and the bar.