Big Project | Project | Project Manager |
|---|---|---|
Thrust Testing Rig | Thrust Testing |
Task Description
The goal of this task is to design and manufacture a new thrust testing rig to measure the thrust generated by propellers.
Requirements
Constraints | Written By | Append Date |
|---|---|---|
Support 10kg of thrust force | 2023/09/30 | |
Clearance for a propeller that is up to 28 inches in diameter | 2023/09/30 | |
Mounting support for 4 x M4 equally spaced at 32 mm diameter | 2023/09/30 | |
Mounting support for 4 x M3 equally spaced at 25 mm diameter | 2023/09/30 | |
6+ mm diameter hole in center of the motor mount for bearing clearance | 2023/09/30 | |
Easy to obtain thrust force without standing near and reading a scale | 2023/09/30 |
Relevant Contacts
Subteam | Contact | Contact Description |
|---|---|---|
Assignees
Assignee | Asana Task | Date |
|---|---|---|
2023/05/21 | ||
2023/05/21 |
Task Progression/Updates
Author: Smile Khatri Date: 2023/09/30
Design and Manufacturing Plan
All parts of the TTR will be manufactured using Al 6061. Aluminum is light-weight and cheap which makes it perfect for the TTR.
The motor mount is printed using carbon fiber PETG and the motor is attached using 4 x M4 screws. There are also two cylinders which are screwed onto this mount and this connects the motor to the load cell. These rods are supported by an aluminum block with two holes in which spacers are tightly fitted. The fit between the spacer and the cylinder is loose to minimize the friction that might reduce the reading of the thrust force.
Link to the load cell: Amazon.com: 20kg Load Cell Weight Sensor Electronic Kitchen Scale + HX711 AD Weighing Module Geekstory : Industrial & Scientific
A load cell converts force/stress upon it into electrical signals which can be measured to determine the applied force/weight. Then the motor turns on, the thrust will push back the motor (Newton’s Third Law) which will apply pressure on the load cell. There are two spacers between the load cell and the standing block so that the stress applied by the thrust is applied in the center of the load cell.
Any hardware component will be mounted behind the aluminum block which holds the hold cell.
Current plan for the hardware and setup:
use Arduino to set up a system that reads out the force measured by the load cell
the load cell has to be calibrated with a known force
Concerns:
there is no clearance for the 28 inch props. With the current set up, the props would have to be hanging off the edge of a table.
tolerance issues between the busing and the two cylinders. It would be simpler to attach the prop directly to the load cell. This will probably yield to more accurate readings because there won’t by any issue related to friction and assembly.