Weekly Update - Foundry and Administration

Hello, Blog readers!

This week, we're bringing you the progress achieved last week.

Following the schedule, the Work Plan was created and is ready for the advisor teacher. In the document was set all the step-by-step procedures we'll be considering to the project's progression. We can't guarantee it will be absolute; it'll get alterations and constant reviews for its constant updating. However, its creation already fits as a powerful guide for the team's go-ahead.

The advisor teacher is the Machine Elements I professor, Maurício Camargo. Talking with him, the weekly meetings were set to the early night fridays, through the Integrator Project, so that the advancementes are reported and assistance asked. Following his recommendation, the meetings and goals shall be set over "pre meeting schedules". Using preset topics (according to the Work Plan), a work planning feedback is possible, therefore permitting a deeper work.

The contact with the EDMCUTⒸ wire company was not estabilished; as so, the brass foundry parameters were studied, aiming the fusion with correct specifications.

As goals, we've kept the search for those foundry parameters and included machining variables (for the test subject for the destructive tests can be adjusted) for a quick and precise process.


----------POST EDITED 10/16/2015---------

Today, 10/16/2015, we have reunited with our advisor teacher (also Machine Elements I professor) to introduce our Work Plan and brighten our doubts.

Picture 1. Solar Engineering meeting with the advisor teacher. From left to right, from bottom to front: Lucas Naves, Carlos Cailan, Gustavo Silva, Gabriel Santanna, Maurício Camargo.
Source:own.

Starting sharply at 17:15, the estipulated time, the Work Plan and Blog were introduced. Over the first one, we were instructed to better arrange our activities disposition through information tags, carrying the activities information. The new deadline was set at the next wednesda.y (10/21/2015).

Altogether with the organizational issue, Lucas Naves was set the project's manager. It implies that he, more than a normal member, would contribute to the progress hollistic management. Therefore, he would manage due dates and intervine in processes as necessary.

The team members were introduced to the LaTeX: a computational program that generates mathematical formulas (in image form) to insert in documents. As a Microsoft EquationsⒸ alternative, it presented intuitive and useful as an open-source tool, simplifying its export.

It was build up the brass compactation issue. It was informed that the better it is compressed, lower oxidation is caused due to the foundry process. It was also mentioned that the creation of a more adequate brass compressor would be ideal, in case there's able time.

Picture 2. Paper with sketches made by the advisor teacher during the Solar Engineering meeting, in portuguese.
Source: own.

As for the test subject, the ready connection between the smelting and the subject was reinforced. The orientation of the produced ingot cannot be, e.g., horizontal, since the test subject must be receive traction in the SENAI CIMATECⒸ machine for analysis (and therefore, vertically oriented). It was also discussed that its technique (about his cylindrical or squared form, based on the available rules) should oughts, specially, for its fabricability. The easiness of the test subject production would ascertain the adopted model.
Another highlight, about the test subject quantity, informed that some of them may register internal residual tensions that are not collected in the visual inspection. As so, when the subjects are made, the traction testing will rupture it in the residual tension point, therefore nullifying the test. Therefore, it was recommended the 5 or 6 value subjects, so the data collected can be evaluated via statistic methods. The possibility for non-destructive assays (chemical analysis, chemical attacking and ultrassound) application has come up, too.

Picture 3. Solar Engineering Meeting, keeping track of the advisor's notations.
Source: own.

As a goal for the next meeting, we have set a wider search over the brass smelting factors, since the manufacturer company didn't bring an answer. It was also set as a goal manage the habile time for the foundry, being the ideal a weekend programming (after the fusion, leaving the piece in the foundry oven, permitting a slower cooldown, avoiding residual tensions and ensuring the piece's uniformity). The search over a foundry addictive has also come up: however, there is research to be done over its application in the Integrator Project.

Until the next week!

Best regards,
Solarium Engineering Team.