The name of the game this week for the DesiGators was napkin drawings! This week the DesiGators ramped up their conceptualization efforts and focused on making even more potential designs for their food desiccation system. The team worked through dozens of combinations of shapes, sizes, and potentially deadly designs for the system in an effort to leave no stone uncovered.

On a more technical note, the team began researching instrumentation and materials that may be needed in the build. A thorough discussion regarding the merits of stainless steel versus acrylic for the frame of the design led to an examination of the thermal conductivity of various materials. Heating elements, fans, and hygrometers were among the many instruments researched for the purpose of determining baselines for the accuracy and precision of commercially available measuring tools. The team used their new knowledge of industry-standard documentation to develop a sheet of requirements and specifications that will eventually be used to judge the success of the project.

The culmination of the week was once again the liaison meeting with Dr. MacIntosh. The DesiGators used the meeting as an opportunity to have Dr. MacIntosh review their napkin drawings and discuss pros and cons of each design. The team also narrowed down specifications for the project and established the various use cases for the desiccator in Dr. MacIntosh’s classes. The meeting ended with fresh-brewed coffee and a commitment to review Dr. MacIntosh’s teaching materials for his desiccation lab to better understand how his students learn about the process of drying.