6.7 Conclusion and Future Work

Did We Accomplish Our Objectives?

Our objectives were for our system to be automated, affordable, and effective in turning Smarties into a fine powder (to replicate pills). All of these objectives were accomplished, but there is still room for improvement in future iterations.

What We Learned

Early on in the design process, we learned the value of having thick, filleted arms. Our first designs were flimsy and brittle. We also learned that wood was stiffer for the arms than acrylic, reducing the amount of toggle in the system and creating a more efficient machine. For the gears, acrylic worked better than wood because there was less friction between the gear teeth.

Future Iterations

If we were to continue fine-tuning this design, we would try to find a way to make the pressure between the wheels and the mortar adjustable, maybe using springs and screws to create a mechanism that can be tightened and loosened. We would also like to make the mortar easier to remove. This would likely require some hinging or easily detachable/reattachable parts. Additionally, making the overall design smaller and more compact, perhaps using a rack and pinion to help, is another goal we would have in the future.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Professor Symmank and the Teaching Assistants (Connor Henning and Mila Wetz) for providing guidance throughout the completion of this project. Thank you to Texas InventionWorks for providing the facilities and materials needed for fabrication.