12 - Can Opener Station
Team Members:
Gavin Hughes, Nick Jaraba, Rohit Prabhu, Zikang Shen
Summary/Overview:
The goal of our final project is to design an automatic can opener that provides a practical and accessible solution for users of all abilities. Manual can openers, while affordable and portable, often require significant hand strength and coordination, making them difficult to use for individuals with limited dexterity. On the other hand, fully automatic can openers tend to be expensive and are prone to mechanical failures due to their reliance on complex electronic components.
Our design offers a balanced, semi-automatic solution that enhances usability without adding unnecessary complexity. The system consists of three main components: a bottom reverse drum brake that clamps and holds the can in place, a gear train that rotates the entire drum brake along with the can, and a top slider-crank mechanism with a can opener blade attached to the slider block for cutting.
The can opener operates in a repeatable sequence: the slider-crank mechanism pushes the blade into the side of the can to make a clean cut, then retracts the blade. Afterward, the gear train rotates the can by a set angle. This cycle repeats until the can has been rotated 360 degrees, completing a full circular cut. By combining mechanical reliability with user-friendly automation, this design delivers a robust and accessible can-opening solution.
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