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Academics
Air Motor
I created a compressed air motor out of stock metal in order to familiarize myself with the tools in the machine shop. Using a set of machine drawings and tolerances, I machines the components utilizing a mill, lathe, band saw, taps and calipers. As a final touch, a CNC machine was used to engrave my name on the bottom of the piece.
Purpose:
In order to get better accustomed to the machine shop, I constructed an air motor out of stock metal based on dimensioned and tolerance machine drawings. Ultimately, this project gave exposure to machine shop tools including mills, lathes, band saws, taps, calipers, and the CNC machine. The specific materials worked with were aluminum, brass, delrin, and steel.
Implementation:
Throughout the construction of the components I learned through experience to always securely fasten the stock material to the vise, and to always triple check cutting depths. After a few redone parts the motor was finally completed and assembled. Compressed air was shot through the air fitting to test the motor, spinning the flywheel at high speeds. As a check, the level of precision machining is demonstrated by how slowly the motor could spin. The finer the tolerances of the components the less friction produced between rubbing parts.
As a final touch, a CNC machine was used to engrave the aluminum base with the phrase “UCSB Engineering” on one side and my name on the other side.
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