In: Mechanical Engineering
A team of design students working on a mousetrap-powered vehicle decides to use computer compact discs as wheels. The discs are lightweight and readily available. However, they must also be aligned and securely attached to the axles. Develop five design concepts for attaching wheels to a 5-mm-diameter axle. Compact discs are 1.25 mm thick, and they have inner and outer diameters of 15 mm and 120 mm.
There may be following design concepts for the assembly of wheels and axle:
(1) As the diameter of the axle is much smaller than the internal diameter of the disc which can be overcome by wrapping the axle ends with the little duct tape on both sides. Thereafter wheels can be inserted firmly.
(2) We can insert the axle in one wheel and slide a washer onto it. Thereafter we insert a straw over it and finally insert another washer and another wheel.
(3) Two washers of 5 mm diameter can be glued on both side of the wheel and then these washers can be inserted easily into the axle.
(4) One more concept for attaching wheels on the axle is to cut threads on the both ends of the axle and put the nut over it and thereafter wheels can be inserted over the nut.
(5) We can also use a rubber pipe over the axle which has the internal diameter equal to the diameter of the axle and outer diameter of the tube equal to the internal diameter of the disc.
There may be following design concepts for the assembly of wheels and axle: