30/05/2023 Antenna Tracker Notes

Introduction

@Arjun Mandair

Welcome!

• Thank you for your time

• Topic of Discussions: Current Design, State of the Project, Next Steps

• Any Questions?

Goals, Constraints, and Encountered Problems

@Arjun Mandair

Picture of the Current Design

Open

Current Antenna Tracker Design

What were you trying to achieve with the project?

• Antenna Tracker that has Two Degrees of Freedom (Pitch, Yaw)

• Support an Antenna

• Sit on a tall, adjustable stand (tripod)

• Currently meant to support patch antenna

• High torque servo

Prior Constraints Document

What were some problems or obstacles you faced during the design process?

• Electronic parts are in the bay

• Talk to Jason

• Drill holes on plate and add electronic components

Project State & Unfinished Tasks

@Arjun Mandair

What is the overall state of the project?

• CAD is finished

• Current CAD is for servo mechanisms

• No electronic housing done

• Not waterproof / weatherproof

• Have good heat dissipation for electronic components (expose heatsinks and encourage airflow)

• Enclosure for electronics (servos, radios, electronics)

• Double check CAD dimensions and tolerancing

• Push fit bearings tolerancing

• Test pitch and yaw with electronic components

• Add screw holes to parts

• add bearing to other side of pitch holder (skateboard bearing 608)

• Add servo holes after measuring (currently using inaccurate dimensions)

• RPC laser cutter for polycarb (thick enough to withstand bending and shattering)

Are there any unfinished parts on the current design (For example, I noticed some unfinished sketches in the CAD)?

Open

Support Bracket

Are there any unfinished tasks in relation to the project?

Was there any testing done or prototypes built on the current design?

• No prototypes built

• Parts order list

• Brass inserts for screws for materials

Design Decisions

@Arjun Mandair

How did you accommodate for the adjustable stand (noticed a bearing underneath with holes)?

• CAD hotswap tripod adapter and attach to bottom

• Middle hole for screw small hole for alignment

• Fix hole dimensions accordingly

Is there an adjustable stand currently built? Does the current antenna tracker design accommodate for it?

• Just the tripod

Noticed that most of the material was designed for 3D printing (ABS). What is your reasoning for that?

• No reasoning

• Any plastic will work (PLA or PTG) depending on torque

• Do everything on same printer for consistent tolerancing

Tips and Innovations Ideas

@Arjun Mandair

Little experience with Mechanical Design. Do you have any tips for me on how to properly structure my design process and make concrete decisions in relation to this project?

• Ask Nathan and Conall and Andy

• Don’t overcomplicate

• Think about manufacturing process during design

• Consider alternative solutions

Having worked on the project already, do you have any innovative ideas? Is there anything I should try to investigate or work on immediately?

• Weatherproof requirement is conflicting and hard

• Have Heatsinks below polycarb plate with cutouts

• Take a look at electronics

• Talk with EE about future plans

Are there any tasks that are unfinished that I should be aware of?

• Electronic components on polycarb plate (ensure 90 degree turn and non-blocking)

• Double check dimensions