The DesiGators hit the ground running after a very productive Thanksgiving Break. The team presented their Peer Review System Level Design Review (SLDR) on Tuesday with both the 3-Delish and Parrotronix teams in attendance. The team got some amazing feedback on how to improve their presentation skills and take their final presentation for the semester to the next level. The team will present their final SLDR next Tuesday inside of the Reitz Union.

The DesiGators worked tirelessly over the break not only on their SLDR presentation but also on various components of the dehydrator design as well. The team has been working closely with IPPD lab manager Larry Warren to 3D print various designs for their shelving brackets. The current designs are shown below and the team is currently in the process of refining the design and selecting the final one.

The team has been working diligently with Dr. MacIntosh to reconfigure the air handling subsystem to best suit his needs and still capture all the parameters necessary for the drying chamber. Virginia and Alex worked closely with him during the weekly liaison meeting to envision what the new system would look like and what parts would work best in the system.

To end the week, Stanley and Korynn headed to the DML lab to make another prototype model of their drying trays – this time made out of perforated steel sheet. The duo got some help from fellow IPPD student and member of MaeChem Silanes, Luke Flanagan, to help shear their raw material before heading to the sheet metal brakes to bend the metal by hand. After taking the trays back to Larry’s lab for some polishing, the newest tray prototype was ready!

The DesiGators have been working hard and hope to show the fruits of their labor in the SLDR. Stay tuned as the team works to close out the year and gets ready to enter a heavy production phase at the start of the Spring semester!