The DesiGators received great news this week in the form of the air heater being delivered! The critical component was the last part needed to complete the air handling subassembly; its delivery will allow the team to begin test runs using heated air. As soon as one chamber is fully functional, Dr. MacIntosh can use it for his drying lab this semester while the team works on getting the remaining three chambers fully operational.

The DesiGators also made some massive improvements to the GUI and were proud to show them to Dr. MacIntosh. The general layout is now displayed and just needs to be filled in with the appropriate charts and data once data is actively being collected. Virginia and Alex have also been hard at work on refining the unit conversion tool so that the system is even more beneficial to the students.

The team also made some impressive progress on the manufacturing front. Korynn and Stanley took advantage of the Herbert Wertheim Prototyping Lab to cut the majority of the metal that will be needed for the final superstructure. After filing the parts down, the team now has all of the metal parts they need to begin welding the load cell support structures. To facilitate this, the team used the Prototyping Lab’s waterjet cutter to make a device that will make welding the structures easier. This precisely-machined piece will enable the welder to make sure the supports meet the project’s needs.

With the advancements on the software side, progress with the manufacturing, and the second Quality Review Board out of the way the DesiGators have had quite the stressful week. The team is still working strong and we are excited to keep you updated on our progress – stay tuned!