Category: Spring 2021

This month, we spent the rest of our time on the project getting the top platform assembled and attached to the trailer base. Aside from that, we spent some time arranging a document for the incoming team that should serve as a crash course into the assembly process and allow them to get started immediately.

Preparation

We began this month by moving the trailer base to the UTD Machine Shop from the UTDesign studio. During this process, we learned that the trailer base is much heavier than we expected – around 500 pounds – which might be an issue further along in the project.

Then, we finished sanding the remaining rough edges on the steel and organized/stored the pieces by length for easy access.

Next, we ordered the nuts, bolts, washers, and Rustoleum that were necessary to successfully complete the attachment of the top platform to the trailer base. In our design, we planned for the attachment between trailer base and top platform of ramp to be through bolting as opposed to welding due to maintenance and trailer replacement considerations. Overall, bolting makes the design much more robust and maintainable for Equest.

Assembling the Frame

After making preparations, we assisted Andrew Bittner in the UTD Machine Shop with welding. Although we were not allowed to directly weld anything ourselves, we were able to optimize the process through live explanation and smaller tasks.

Our final task this semester was to apply a coat Rustoleum to the Top Platform of the ramp to both prevent rust and give it a nicer appearance. As the ramp will likely be stored outside of the machine shop this summer, this was an important step in preserving the structural integrity of the ramp.

Final Message

We spent our remaining free time arranging a document outlining the procedures we took to access the machine shop and to order our materials. Using the Parts List and the Future Procurement Summary, next semester’s team should be able to quickly update the ramp design and begin ordering core components immediately. We wish them the best of luck, and hope to see the Portable Mounting Ramp finally be completed by the end of next semester! Neigh Sayers, signing off.

April was the month we finally made substantial physical progress on the ramp, along with organizing a logistical framework for the assembly process. Most of this month was geared towards completing the top platform of the ramp, learning from the process, and outlining a framework for the rest of the ramp assembly process.

Logistics

We began by contacting vendors from which to order our steel for the frame of the top platform and also contacting Andrew Bittner from the UTD Machine Shop to set up our in-person training and review our engineering drawings. We ended up choosing MetalSupermarkets as our vendor as they cut the steel to lengths we specified and delivered quickly and free of charge. We refrained from ordering the walking surface of the ramp, as our primary focus with this order was to complete the frame of the top platform and attach it to the trailer base.

Then, we created a Parts List to document all the core ramp frame parts needed for assembly. This included parts we already had, and parts that would need to be ordered in the future. We also developed a custom part number for each part, for organizational and labelling purposes.

The main reason we established the Parts List was so we could plan the future procurement of core ramp components weeks in advance and streamline the process. This will increase the time we have to work in the Machine Shop in the future assembly stages. Moreover, we also were able to obtain a rough estimate for the amount of money we would need for the rest of the core components of the ramp.

Assembly

Our first experience in the UTD Machine Shop was a crash course on the machines we would be using for cutting and sanding the steel we ordered. Our main purpose in the machine shop was to prep the raw components for Andrew Bittner to weld and to provide detailed engineering drawings for him to use during assembly. But first, we needed to complete our training.

After our training, we moved the steel from the UTDesign Studio to the UTD Machine Shop and began cutting and sanding the components. After this, it was time to help Andrew Bittner weld the frame of the ramp together.

Future Design Considerations

While doing training in the UTD Machine Shop, we noticed another trailer from a senior design team parked in the machine shop. We also observed that the senior design trailer had a stabilization mechanism in place to hold the trailer steady while it was being loaded. We realized that our portable mounting ramp, being mounted on a trailer base with wheels, would also experience similar stability issues as that of the senior design trailer.

Our other upcoming design consideration is the railing solution. Although we created a price quote for the future core ramp components, we also made plans to add a permanent railing holder affixed to the ramp, meaning we would need to order more steel.

Upcoming Plans

For May, we will focus all of our efforts on preparing the raw materials for their final assembly during this semester. We will need to move the trailer base from the UTDesign Studio to the UTD Machine Shop, and we will need to order nuts, bolts, washers, and Rustoleum for the top ramp platform. Given the business and short length of our time on this project in May, it’s sure to be an exciting month.

This month, we focused on the logistics of the ramp and we are now ready to order components for assembly in April. Concerns this month included: trailer base modelling, machinist consultation, design optimization, and price quote comparison.

Firstly, we contacted Andrew Bittner from the UTD Machine Shop to discuss the feasibility of machining our current platform design and our idea to cut excess length off of the trailer base. From this meeting, we got confirmation and advice on many of our design questions, and quickly went to work amending and updating our designs.

Trailer Base Cut

First, we created a model of the trailer base in CREO in order to simulate the assembly of the top platform of the ramp to the top of the trailer base. This model helped us convey our design concept to Andrew, and allowed us to discuss more specific concerns.

Using the trailer base model, we consulted with Andrew Bittner and our project mentors to determine if a cut on the trailer was appropriate. In the end, we determined that cutting the trailer would result in a potential loss of structural integrity and handling on the road.

Top Platform Mounting Solution

Next, we used the input from Andrew Bittner to determine the optimal way to mount the Top Platform of the ramp to the top of the Trailer Base. Our problem was that the platform design inherited from last semester had 1 set of central mounting legs, while the trailer base has 2 central, horizontal supports at the center that do not align with that of the top platform.

Our solution, approved via email confirmation by Andrew Bittner, was to restructure the central support of the Top Platform into 2 centralized sets of supports that mirror the dimensions of the Trailer Base’s crossbeams.

To mount the Top Platform supports to the Trailer Base more effectively, we added angle iron cross beams along the bottom of the supports. After implementing the Top Platform mounting solution to our model, we updated our material procurement lists and reassembled the 3D model of the ramp.

The “Impossible” Tubing Cut

The last major concern for the ramp was a certain cut of steel tubing on the Bottom, or loading, Segment of the ramp that Andrew Bittner told us was impossible to perform due to the angle.

After consulting with our project partner, Bobby Valdez, we were relieved to learn that a small gap between the ground and the lowest point of the ramp of about 2 inches was acceptable. Using this information, we amended the cut on the steel tubing.

Although the steel tubing cut is now resolved, we are currently discussing the removal of the overhanging portion of the expanded metal resulting from the design change. Because it is the lowest part of the ramp and is now unsupported by steel tubing, we have concerns that the expanded steel may eventually wear away from impacts with the ground. We will consult with Andrew Bittner, Bobby Valdez, and our project mentors to resolve this concern.

Price Quote Comparisons

Our final task this month was to call UTD approved steel vendors and compare purchase prices for the materials we need to complete the Top and Mid segments of the ramp. We are comparing many parameters to determine the best vendors, namely: gross cost, cost per unit, shipping fee, locality, and favor with the university. We will have our procurement form ready for approval in early April.

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Plans for Next Month

Next month will be crucial for this project: we will be ordering components and consulting with the UTD Machine Shop a lot. We will also begin work on the design of the Permanent Safety Guard Mounting solution discussed with Andrew Bittner. While we work on this, the Top Platform will be machined, and we will need to coordinate with the UTD Machine Shop and UTDesign Studio to navigate the Trailer Base (currently in the UTDesign Studio) to the machine shop.

We made quite ambitious plans for February at the end of January, but we learned the hard way that things don’t always go as planned. Every now and then, the Texas winter gets quite extreme, and as we all know this year happened to be one of them. Despite our project being halted for nearly 2 weeks in February, we still managed to make some serious progress.

Firstly, we finally got the wheels onto the trailer base correctly, leaving only the electronics left in its assembly. Once we get the trailer base assembled, we’ll need to take it to the parking lot and secure it for storage due to its size. 

We also took inventory of the parts that we need to order to complete the frame of the ramp, and began comparing vendor prices. We then met with Andrew Bittner from the UTD machine shop and got a good idea of how we need to prepare and order our components such that we can get the majority of the frame completed quickly.

Our plan going into March is to get all the parts ordered for the entire ramp and to begin cutting the steel tubing for the ramp frame with the help of the machine shop.

During the little time we had this month, we introduced ourselves and became acquainted as a team. We established our place as the Spring 2021 roster of the Neigh Sayers by completing our Team Charter. After that, we immediately went to work identifying the final logistics needed to be done for February.

Firstly, we plan to take inventory of the amount of A36 cold-rolled square steel tubing that we will use to make the frame of the ramp (in feet of tubing purchased). We will then do a brief price comparison and get the steel ordered as soon as possible. Ideally, we can have the frame done by the end of February. As a minor detail, we will visit the UTDesign Studio a few times in early February to wrap up the trailer base assembly and transport it outside.

We are setting ambitious goals for this semester, as we hope to finally have the ramp delivered to Equest for Bobby and his clients.