1.1.

6 Project Compound
When compound machines meet simple tasks : a stamping mechanism.

P R O F I L E​ ​Talented & ambitious junior engineers enrolled in Principles of Engineering

based in Dublin, CA. Utilizing extensive and successful experience in a wide variety of projects
and collaboration.

TEAM PICTURE WITH PROTOTYPE

SSRMechanics
Sasha Mittal & Megan Ngai & Rupali Sarathy & Subash Shibu
August 29, 2018 - September 10, 2018
Principles of Engineering, Period 6

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page 1

Table of Contents 2

Design Brief 3

Proposed Design Solution - Sketch, Descriptions, Dates 4

Modified Design - Before/After, Descriptions, Justifications 5-7

Final Design - Photos, Sketches, Descriptions 8

Written Description of Final Prototype, Mechanical Advantages 9

References  10

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 2
 DESIGN BRIEF
Client
Our clients are a group of individuals living in a place called the Compound.

Problem
The individuals in the Compound are in need of more compound machines in order to
achieve their simple everyday tasks. Continuously stamping paper takes up too much
time and it's a hassle.

Constraints
1. The prototype must include at least 4 mechanisms.
2. The applied force may only be provided by a single human input.
3. A compound member will be here in 6 days to receive all documentation of the
prototype.
4. Use any material that is approved by the instructor to build the prototype.

Design Statement
We will design, build, and test a compound machine made to stamp papers quickly.

Deliverables
Team Deliverables
● A title page that includes project number & title, subtitle (your machine), designers’
names, team photo with final prototype, class name & period, dates of project.
● A table of contents for the items that follow.
● A concise design brief that fits on one page containing all parts including deliverables
● Photo of original design proposal that includes labels, descriptions, signatures, and
dates.
● Record of modifications made to original design - including before/after.
● Sketches/photos, descriptions, justification, signatures, and dates.
● Photos of the final design from multiple views with proper labels, descriptions,
signatures, and dates.
● Paragraph description of your final prototype explaining how it completes the desired
task, ​and ​the MA results for each part & total.
● Reference list of any sources used.
Individual Deliverables
● 2 clear annotated brainstorming sketches.
● Project log of specific tasks completed each day.
● Calculations of mechanical advantage for final design (including clear measurements,
formulas, work, for each part, and then the total MA).
● Conclusion Questions.

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 3
 PROPOSED DESIGN SOLUTION
Our team’s initial design
consists of four simple
machines: a declined plane, a
simple gear train, a pulley
system, as well as a lever.
These four processes work
together to meet the common
goal of stamping a paper.The
machine begins as a weight
(attached to a string) is put
onto the top of our declined
plane. As the weight falls
down, the string tugs onto
the driver gear in the gear
train. This driver gear begins
to turn all the other wheels as
well. The last wheel, or
anchor in this case, is tied to
a string which connects to
the pulley system. As the
driver gear turns, it tugs the
string on the pulley system,
allowing the belt to move to
the left. As the pulley moves
to the left, the string attached
onto the belt attaches to the
final lever, allowing the
stamp to fall.
 

Rupali Sarathy   Sasha Mittal Megan Ngai Subash Shibu

8/31/18 8/31/18 8/31/18 8/31/18

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 4
 DESIGN MODIFICATIONS
1. As we started building our simple gear train, we realized that we would need an odd
number of gears in order for our final gear to turn in the direction we want it to.
Therefore, we decided to use 5 gears instead of 4. Changing the number of gears resulted
in the change of the output direction.

Rupali Sarathy   Sasha Mittal Megan Ngai Subash Shibu

9/4/18 9/4/18 9/4/18 9/4/18

2. After building the decline plane, we realized that there was much friction between the
string, weight, and decline plane. This friction made it difficult to achieve our goal of
stamping the paper. Therefore, we decided to get rid of the decline plane and have the
user input be dropping the weight off of a table instead.

In order to increase efficiency of our compound machine, we decided to place a wheel on the end
of the axle of the driver gear. The wheel is connected to the string and weight rather than have
the weight tied to the driver gear axle. This increases the amount of times the driver gear turns,
therefore increasing output force. The more output force, the easier to accomplish our goal of
stamping the paper. The wheel and axle simple machine replaced the first initial simple machine,
the declined plane. Using the wheel and axle made our compound machine much more efficient
and easy to use.

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 5
The first gear acts as a wheel in a wheel and axle system, in which the effort is at the axle. The
string, which is wound up on the axle, turns the axle, which then turns the wheel (also known as
the driver gear in the simple gear train). Starting our compound machine with this was much
more efficient.

Rupali Sarathy   Sasha Mittal Megan Ngai Subash Shibu

9/5/18 9/5/18 9/5/18 9/5/18

3. Our original design incorporated the idea of tying the a string from the axle of the last
gear to the top wheel of the pulley. However, the string did not have a proper grip on the
wheel so it continuously slipped off the wheel. Instead, we decided to put a belt around
the pulley and tie the string to the belt. This allowed for a stable pulley configuration. The
belt allowed a stronger grip onto the wheel with more sturdiness. The string was still used
as the major pulley mechanism.

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 6
Rupali Sarathy   Sasha Mittal Megan Ngai Subash Shibu
9/6/18 9/6/18 9/6/18 9/6/18

4. Ultimately, our design incorporates two wheel and axle systems. One replaces our decline
plane (as shown in number two), and the other is the last gear in the simple gear train.
The last gear acts as a wheel and axle system as well because this system allows our
pulley to move as well. However, in this case, the effort is at the wheel (not the axle)
because the wheel is what turns the axle and string. This wheel and axle system allows
the connection between the simple gear train to the pulley and the final lever.

Rupali Sarathy   Sasha Mittal Megan Ngai Subash Shibu

9/7/18 9/7/18 9/7/18 9/7/18

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 7
 FINAL DESIGN

Front View of Full Design:

From left to right: wheel and axle system, simple gear train, second wheel and axle system,
pulley, first class lever

Left Top View of Full Design: Top View of Gear Train and Wheels and Axles:

Front View of Lever with Stamp:

Rupali Sarathy  Sasha Mittal Megan Ngai Subash Shibu

9/7/18 9/7/18 9/7/18 9/7/18

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 8
 FINAL DESIGN DESCRIPTION

Our final prototype contains five mechanisms/simple machines: 2 wheel and axle
systems, a simple gear train, a pulley, and a first class lever. These four processes work together
to meet the common goal of stamping a paper. The machine starts when a human pulls a string
connected to the axle of a driver gear. This is the first wheel and axle system. As the driver gear
turns counterclockwise, the other gears turn in a simple gear train as well. Ultimately, the last
gear turns counterclockwise. In turn, the last gear turns an axle tied to a piece of string. This is
the second wheel and axle system. The string from the second axle and wheel machine connects
to the pulley system. When the last gear turns, it tugs the string on the pulley system
counterclockwise, allowing the belt to move to the left.. As the pulley turns towards the left, the
string attached from the pulley to the left side of the lever turns left as well. This results in the
left side of the lever rising and the right side falling down. The right side of the lever has a small
stamp attached to the end, and as the right side falls down, the paper is stamped.
Our calculations found the total ideal mechanical advantage of 3.1979. This was
calculated using the product of the mechanical advantages of each individual part. The first
mechanism, the wheel and axle, had a mechanical advantage of 0.05. The simple gear train had a
mechanical advantage of 1.4 and the second wheel and axle had a mechanical advantage of 28.
The pulley’s mechanical advantage was calculated using the number of strings pulling on the
object, which was simply 1. The last mechanism, the first class lever, had a mechanical
advantage of 1.6316. The product of these five mechanical advantages allowed us to calculate or
total mechanical advantage of 3.1979.

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 9
 REFERENCES

“Simple Machines: Pulley” ​Sophia​, 5 Sept. 2018,

https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/simple-machines-pulley--2​.

“VEX Robotics” ​VEX, 5​ Sept. 2018,

https://www.vexrobotics.com​.

© 2018 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering 1.1.6 – Page 10