3D-Printed Prototype

For a more detailed report of our progress, please go to http://cansat.eu/2012-teams/team12-aspire/team12-aspireb.html Otherwise, let me introduce you to our first 3D printed prototype of the Cansat. With the priviledge of having a 3D printer inside school, we decided that, in order to test our systems most effectively, it would be fitting to first create a (to scale) prototype of the body, as well as a replaceable lid in case we had to change some of the parameters (e.g. batteries, pcb connections etc.). The whole print took a total of 9.5 hours (3.5 hours to print, 6 hours for the model to be washed (to dissolve the support material)).

The task of attaching the lid to the body now arises. Due to the desire to maximise the usable volume of the Cansat, we have decided to make a reasonably thin wall, hence a simple screw mechanism would not be sufficient. Therefore a more ingenious method has been concocted. We have decided to drill a hole in the side of the cansat, then by feeding in a piece of metal through this hole, we can then drill a hole in the top of the cansat (lid) and feed a screw through there, which will go into the piece of metal. This mechanism will be used only for the prototype and not for the actual cansat, which will be more sturdy against the damaging factors (wind, initial jerk from parachute etc.)