Hello everyone! This week was quieter than the previous few, but it marked a steady transition toward fabrication and assembly for the Dream Steam team. While there were no major review events, we continued making progress on several important technical tasks. We finalized communication with Ray’s sheet metal manufacturing team and received a quote after resolving their remaining questions. Orders were placed or started for steam piping, electronic safety components, and other hardware, and polycarbonate sheets were cut to final window dimensions using a water jet, with meticulous attention paid to the budget. We also presented updated FEA models to our liaison and received guidance that helped refine the final goals of the analyses. Additionally, we were introduced to the Final Design Review this week and began outlining our approach and required materials. Although Week 4 was less eventful than recent weeks, it helped solidify plans and set the foundation for upcoming fabrication and review milestones.

This week, the Dream Steam team reached a major milestone by completing our first Qualification Review Board (QRB), and it went well overall. The judges noted that our project is clearly communicated, well-conceived, and feasible, which was reflected in both the rubric ratings and post-deliberation feedback. We presented our system design, CAD assembly, FEA work, testing plans, and schedule, and the panel asked thoughtful questions that helped validate our progress. The feedback mainly focused on refining technical details, improving clarity in the Ansys temperature models, and strengthening execution planning as we move into fabrication and assembly. Overall, the QRB confirmed that we are on the right track and provided clear, actionable guidance that will help us strengthen the project moving forward!

(P.S. our Ansys models are finally visible and we can showcase them in addition to the prototype!)

Hello IPPD!

This week, Dream Steam designed their Spring plan with individualized tasks and realistic timelines. They had this semester’s first meeting with their liaison to discuss the part drawings of the entire steam blancher. They dedicated time to iron out most flaws and address any improvements to each system. This included adding new components to their budget list, adding them to the assembly to ensure there are no conflicts, and making the whole design as modular as possible. Some members also performed testing of polycarbonate windows with hydrophobic coating for steam use. With the physical structure basically complete, we will soon dedicate more time to test the FEA models.

Hello IPPDers!

As we move into the final week of the semester, our team has really started to feel the excitement of the project taking shape. This week marked a major milestone: completing our System Level Design Review. After weeks of refining diagrams, tightening up requirements, and practicing our flow, it was rewarding to finally present our full system vision and get positive, constructive feedback from the panel. The SLDR helped us confirm that we’re on the right path and highlighted a few areas we’re eager to improve as we move forward.

Right after the review, we kicked off the next big step in our project: ordering our first batch of parts. Seeing components go from discussion to the actual purchasing stage made everything feel much more concrete. It’s one thing to talk about designs on paper, but it’s another to start acquiring the pieces that will eventually become our working product. We’ve been tracking costs, checking lead times, and making sure everything aligns with the goals we set earlier in the semester.

Overall, this final stretch has been both busy and energizing. Finishing the semester with a completed SLDR and the first parts on the way gives us a strong starting point for next spring’s build phase. We’re excited to keep the momentum going and return after the break ready to start assembling and testing the real system. Enjoy this pic of some of us during our presentation.

Good afternoon IPPDers!

This week was our PR SLDR session, which basically meant a full day of teams showing off their draft SLDR presentations to peers, faculty, and coaches. It was our first real chance to run through everything out loud, and it quickly showed us which parts flowed nicely and which parts still need a little cleanup. The feedback was super helpful; we got pointers on tightening up our subsystem explanations, smoothing out our prototype timeline, clarifying a few testing details, and making our budget a bit more readable. We also sent in our official project title for the SLDR event program, which somehow made everything feel much more real and solidified our group’s identity. After the review, our team dove back into the SLDR draft to start making edits and fixing the biggest gaps. Overall, PR SLDR was a great checkpoint, and now we feel much more prepared heading into the final SLDR after Thanksgiving.

Everyone have a great break! We’re almost there. One cannot reach the mountaintop without the climb. “We shall fight on the beaches… we shall never surrender!” – Winston Churchill

This week was a really productive one for our team. We finalized the first draft of our budget and put together our first real shopping list, which helped us get a clearer picture of what we actually need to buy and how everything fits into our overall plan. We also spent time researching local welding and assembly services to see who might be the best fit for fabricating the larger structural parts of our system once we receive our parts and move into the build phase. On top of that, we were in the lab running tests with the equipment we already have, just to get a better feel for its current limits, what works well, and what still needs improvement. Those tests gave us some helpful baseline data and a clearer idea of which components might need to be upgraded or replaced down the road. Overall, it felt like a good blend of planning, research, and hands-on work that set us up well for what’s coming next. Thumbs up for the home stretch.

“Thirty minutes, for the rest of our lives” – T.T.

Hello IPPDers,

Prototype Inspection Day (PID) was an exciting and rewarding milestone for our team as we finally got to present our design to experienced professional engineers. After a couple months of brainstorming, CAD modeling, and researching components, seeing our nearly final design was a proud moment for everyone. Our prototype showcased the main system features, including the safety locking mechanisms, transparent chamber, and steam diffusion mechanism, allowing us to show it off to the judges. During the event, we received insightful feedback on improving chamber materials, optimizing sensor placement, and refining steam distribution. A couple faculty member specifically encouraged us to incorporate Rain-X to prevent condensation on the windows. Simple, but works. The event also gave us a better sense of the obstacles we may encounter in practice and what challenges remain. Overall, PID was a major step in validating our concept and preparing for the next stage of development.

Hello IPPD students, faculty, and spectators,

This week, we shifted gears toward getting ready for Prototype Inspection Day (PID) and looking ahead to our System Level Design Review (SLDR). With the semester wrapping up soon, our team focused on our first prototype session and how we’ll test it to make sure we’re on the right track. We also talked about sourcing components and figuring out what to build versus what to buy. During class, we went over what to expect for the SLDR presentation and started outlining how our system will come together. We are looking forward to talking with experienced engineers next week and getting all the feedback we can before the first real build phase begins. Overall, we’re feeling good about our progress and excited to show what we’ve been working on before heading into spring.

As always, go Gators, beat the Dawgs. Dream Steam is entering its Tebow Era. See you all at the game tomorrow!

Hello IPPD faculty, students, and anyone else tuning in,

This week, we had our official PDR presentation in front of the Food Science board sponsoring our project. We were a bit nervous at first, but all went well. They were super friendly and provided insightful feedback into our project. For some of us in Dream Steam, it was our first ever professional presentation in front of a board having sway in our project and providing the funds, rather than just a simple presentation for a class project. We’ve spent the rest of the week taking all feedback into account in order to prepare for demonstrating our prototype at Prototype Inspection Day. We know there will be challenges in deciding what to keep and what to leave out for our first prototype demonstration, but we look forward to working together and tackling those challenges head on as a team. Some feedback was minimal in regards to our overall scope of work, but some will require us to shift our focus and think in new ways. It may seem daunting, but know that Dream Steam will show up and show out!