Windlass Part III: SolidWorks Works!

As mentioned previously (see Windlass Part II), last weekend my partners and I spent a fair amount of time putting the windlass together in SolidWorks.  After some trials and tribulations, we changed a few dimensions to make sure all the pegs fit perfectly; then we measured our Delrin and realized we needed to change a few more dimensions.  We were excited to print out our pieces on the laser cutter!

We didn't assemble the full windlass, since that would have given us a disproportionately small amount of information for the amount of additional time we would need to invest in SolidWorks--here's at least one of each joint assembled:

Another copy of the above assembled structure will stand on the other side of the "well" gap (so the A frames are on the edges of the gap, with the horizontal piece that's currently sticking out mirrored on the other side to hold the two frames together).  The complete structure will have two Delrin rods stuck through the holes in the bearings in the top of the A frames (a tight fit to provide structural integrity), with two larger bushings on either side of each bearing to hold them inside the A-frame holes.  We will heat-stake together the pegs to provide a sturdy base.

Everything fits!  Huzzah!

Alas, our excitement was short-lived.  Unfortunately, 5 minutes before printing, the laser cutter started billowing smoke (well, not so much billowing, but smoking a fair amount).  Apparently the blower fan, which cooled the machine and blew away the noxious fumes, wasn't adequately communicating with the laser cutter.  We hope it will be fixed before the end of the semester, but for now Olin has graciously allowed the few groups who didn't manage to print their windlasses to use the engineering college's laser cutter.  The design has been sent off to Olin with one of our fearless TAs, and we eagerly await assembling the final Delrin product!