Product Progress Assessment

Introduction and Statement of Purpose

My goal for a final product is a project that will allow me to get an

understanding of the development of a product and to learn about
automotive designs and renewable energy. I plan to create a device that will
be able to harvest wind energy, as a car is driving, and be able to store it. I
have seen that automobiles are changing in order to be more environmental,
so using renewable energy with motor vehicles will definitely be the future of
the industry, and I wanted to get a head start on that.

Learning to Use SolidWorks

Objective

To learn how to use software, that are used in product development and get
a good understanding of how I can use what I learned for my Original Work
and implement it.

Materials

Laptop
SolidWorks
YouTube Videos

Dates

February 20th March 17th

Description of Process

SolidWorks is a software that has a lot of features and could be complex at

times. In order to get an understanding of how to use the software, I spent
close to an entire month trying to learn about the different features and
variables within the software. I watched the tutorial videos on YouTube
created by vertaux1 on the basics of utilizing SolidWorks and created
various designs from what I have learned from each tutorial. This includes
learning about creating basic shapes (2D and 3D) to going about using
different features (Revolve, Extrude, Cuts, Pattern, etc.)

Result/Conclusion

I was able to successfully create a basic portfolio that encompassed my

progress and showcased what I have learned from these various tutorials.
Using what I have learned I can move onto the more integral components of
my Original Work. None of which would have been possible without the
knowledge I have gained from using this software. The knowledge I gained
was put towards creating initial design concepts among many more items.

Concept Designs

Objective

My objective with creating a concept design was to figure out the best
designs to use for making the spoiler-turbine the most efficient. Whatever
design I chose to work with needed to be structurally sound, harvest wind
energy and not hinder too much the aerodynamics of the motor vehicle

Materials

SolidWorks

Meetings/Dates

March 17, 2017 March 31, 2017

Description of Process

This phase of my Original Work was basically a brainstorm, that helped us

figure out the right design to use. I created a total of 3 good designs before
my mentor and I were able to find one that suited our purpose well. I would
typically spend the week working on a new and efficient design, which I
would present to my mentor during our meeting and then wed work out the
details of the design and determine if it was the right design to use for the
situation at hand. Then wed proceed to work on the basic outline of the
next design which I would complete by our next meeting.

Result/Conclusion

The third design that we worked on was the one that we thought would be
the most efficient one to work with because of its limited interference with
the flow of air and its ability to still harvest the wind that goes over it. This
design however has one major flaw, which lies within the area of the wings
on the turbine. They are much too small to generate a lot of torque. This
means that although we will be able to harvest wind energy, it will be
severely restricted by how fast the wind approaches the turbine. This is why
Ive been trying to make the space designated for the turbine much bigger
then what was initially intended.

Getting the Parts ready to 3D print

Objective

To be able have the various components for my Original Work ready to be

sent and made into plastic molds, through 3D printing.

Materials

SolidWorks

Meetings/Dates

March 31, 2017 April 14, 2017

Description of Process

First, I will need to split my finalized concept design into various

components so that it will be easier to 3D print and even make molds of for
the future. In each part file, I will need to make sure that everything is
properly dimensioned and that every detail is accounted for.

Result/Conclusion

I have not completed this part of my Original Work, as of today (April 10,
2017). However, so far, I have put 2 of my 3 components into part files and
am working on doing the same to the third part. I wanted to have this
completed by April 7, 2017 but I was unable to meet the deadline. I am
close to completion of this part and will meet up with my mentor later this
week to go over the various part files.