Week 4 (Mold Design Update)
Before creating the design of the mold for the boat on AutoCAD, the group had established that the best shape and form of the boat would be a trapezoidal prism. The initial plan was to have the boat mirror the design of a typical boat such as a canoe or a cargo ship; but since the objective of the project is to make the boat float by itself on water and while it is holding water within, designing the boat for movement is unnecessary. It was thought to be wise that more effort and thinking should be put on the design of the material composition rather than the design of the boat itself because the boat is not meant to move.
Various factors were considered before drawing the design:
Various factors were considered before drawing the design:
- Filling the cement in the mold should not be difficult and should not require force or outside tools besides something to remove the air voids (i.e popsicle stick, metal rod).
- The detachment of the mold after the cement has cured should not require excessive force.
- The longest length of the boat should not exceed 6 inches.
- The design should allow the cement to distribute evenly within the empty spaces of the mold (although the aid of the vibrating machine is considered).
