No one has reported to the wider world what we have been up to for a while, so I thought I'd take it upon myself to report on the most active work at the ERPS shop. We've just been too busy getting stuff done to report much on it :).
POGO structure -- The base frame for POGO is welded up and ready to go. The next part to be completed is the frame to hold the main tank. I am working on the jigs for that. Once the tank frame is welded to the base frame, we will be ready to epoxy the base frame to the base plate. At that point, we will be ready to tack weld the tank and send it out for welding and heat treating. Gizmo/POGO software -- Dave Masten has completed a Matlab/Simulink model of the Gizmocopter control system, and mated it to my physics model. He is currently working on debugging it. I need to update the physics model with the new batteries. Gizmocopter -- Gizmo is now able to lift itself without trouble, with the new lead acid batteries provided by Dan Solvin. Lead acid kicks the crap out of NiCad for high current density, which is what Gizmo requires. Gizmo is out of action right now, due to issues with the control computer not booting properly. Resolution will require a special cable from the supplier, so we can get a console on it and iron out the issue. Peroxide Supply -- A couple of leakage problems cropped up with the last mods to the sparger, and to correct them, I am putting together an improved condenser tower and much improved heating coil. These are not proceeding as smoothly as I had hoped, and I am not sure when they will be Ranch ready. In particular, I had trouble bending the thin tube for the new heat exchanger. Dave Weinshanker is currently working on a freeze-wheel continous fractional freezing system. It's fairly early stage right now, so more details will follow later. Manufacturing Capabilities -- I'm learning to use the CNC mill so generously loaned to us by Dan Bowlin, of BoJo Inc. It's a Tree Machine Co. Journeyman 210 mill with a 2-axis Delta Dynapath 10 controller. The control cage has room for boards for two more axes, but the controller is out of production and new boards are not readily available, and my search for them has not been fruitful. IT -- Chris Winter is working hard on the oh so very overdue update of the website. _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
