06.6 Conclusions & Future Work - Orange Juicer

Conclusion

Despite many issues along the way, our final product could successfully perform both the juicing and ejection tasks of juicing an orange. Though the sprocket gear design prevents a perfect timing alignment between the two mechanisms, they work as desired individually, and with a small redesign they could come together to make a seamlessly functioning juicer.

Lessons Learned

• The number of sprocket gear teeth matters for changing the timing of where/when the two mechanisms mesh

• Need to have contact for as much length as possible for the central link ground

• Small heat inserts are not very secure and will want to fall out at the most inconvenient times

Future Improvements

• Changing the number of sprocket gear teeth to adjust the timing of the two mechanisms

• Tuning the position/angle of the orange peel ejector to more consistently remove the peels

• Adjusting the motor control system to slow down the motor speed

• Adding something to better catch the orange peel after ejection

• Adding the other portions of a juicer, such as the loading mechanism and the juice delivery

• Creating a cleaner, integrated circuit with better user input controls.

Advice Column

• Different 3D printers, even when they are the same make and model, will have slightly different tolerances that may affect how parts fit together if something is re printed on a different printer than it first was printed on

• Be careful when considering miter gear choices and alignments and avoid 3D printing them unless absolutely necessary

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Daniela Garcia Plascencia Rodriguez, Shalini Petrus, Ameya Dhumal, and Longhorn Racing for the support they have provided throughout the course of this project. This project would not be possible without you.