It's here!

The technician at WNEC School of Engineering finished putting the design together! So, now I'm happy to say that we'll start working with it tomorrow after school! The contraption is shown below and in the DESIGN tab:
(to adherers: we need to think of a name for it)

Good News!

So WNEC was kind enough to set up the entire design for us. I planned for the entire group to meet up at WNEC this morning (Jan. 17) to finalize the design with the technician. Unfortunately, no one showed up, so I went by myself...
I cleared up some of the issues the technician had detected with the contraption. I uploaded a new photo of the design under the tab. The technician is going to shrink it to a light-weight and experiment-capable size, which is definitely a positive. Since WNEC and all other colleges are beginning their second semester tomorrow, the technician will be a bit busy. So he predicts that he'll be completed with the work by Friday.
WNEC is gratefully providing us with any additional materials needed to build the contraption.
That's all for now. I'm glad to say that experimenting will likely start next week!

-Nasim

Over Break

Well, I have almost everything for the design. I bought a bar, but it's 48 inches long and I need to get it cut into four 1-foot pieces. My dad is taking it to work and hopefully they'll cut it and drill holes into the bottom so that we can attach it to the plywood. So all we need now are the springs, and eventually to put it together and start testing! (hopefully before the end of the first week of january)

I'm finishing up the powerpoint for friday's presentation. We just need test results for one of the slides. Also a slide for current hypotheses (after experimentation) and future plans of attack.

This was basically just an update.

-Nasim

The Contraption

So we've received the plexi glass and we have pulleys to use (thanks to Mr. Hill). I'm getting the plywood, springs, and bars over the weekend at Home Depot.
We only need the adhesive.
So we were hoping that UMass could possible send us some PDMS so we could start out with that when we begin testing, which I hope will be soon.
Thanks

-Nasim

FOR WAB LAB

Hey guys,

If you could all check out what type of Bromelain you want to buy that would be awesome. I have left some (one) type on the table. If you could do that I can start testing next week. Getting chicken breast will be easy. Also write down what size sample you want to use, etc. I will be up to WAB when I get out of practice. Our practices are short, so if you guys are still here i'll run up!
Thanks guys!

Anthony_

Progress

Well, we've got the design set and the plexi-glass is ordered and on its way. Hopefully that'll arrive soon so that we'll be able to build it.
The new design (which I haven't posted on the blog), involved an upward pull using a pulley system. It'll be easier to picture once I have an image on the blog.
Once the system is built, we'll start testing. But for now, just waiting for the glass. I'll be providing plywood, springs, and other materials, unless someone wants to help?

-Nasim

New Tab

I've added a new tab (Design). It's just an image of what the experimental design will be. As I said in my earlier post, located below, the group needs to stay after to order materials and eventually put it together. I can't stay after for more than 10 minutes until November 17th. But, just for those of you who don't know what we're going to be doing, the design is shown on the tab named DESIGN. J

-Nasim

Updates: Science Fair and Progress

Science Fair:
About a week ago, the Adhesion Legion decided on members who are going to attend the science fair: Nasim, Lisa, and Artur. Other than that, I've been working on the research plan and it is finally complete! I'll need someone to look at it, but it's basically done. So, success!

Progress:
Over the past week, working on the research plan for the science fair has helped me understand what we are exactly going to do! On the last friday that we visited UMass, the group decided to work with normal force. The experimental design involves compliance, which we all know means the stretchiness of an object. There are four springs attached to and holding up a horizontal plexi-glass plane. The adhesive is stuck to the bottom (or top, depending on which direction we're going to pull), and is pulled down. We can either pull it by hand or use the bucket of sand idea that UMass gave us. Both ways work. The failure force is recorded for a variety of spring compliances. We determine the compliance at which the adhesive works best and relate the compliance to an actual surface. Eventually, we'll be working with a variety of adhesives.

I think all we have to do now is actually make the contraption we'll be using. Unfortunately, I have class after school until November 16, so I can't stay after for more than 10 minutes. But I hope that won't stop any of the Adherers from staying after to put it together.

-Nasim Cheraghi