Ellaboration

Main Story- We designed this machine to give everyday photographers the ability to create high quality videos. Our design is simple to use, and can mount on many things to make it easier for the user. 

Mechanics- On the bottom of the box there are tracks which hold the wheels and axle which is attached to the phone holder in place. A string is stuck between two bolts on the axle, and the string is attached to 3D printed spools, one on each end. One of the spools is attached to a stepper motor, which will be programmed to turn at a steady speed, moving the wheels and axle like a pulley system. 

Development- The project started as a machine that would allow a camera to travel up a very tall track, and take a video from a higher angle. Our main selling points were and are: portability, efficiency, and stability, which the original plan didn't include much of. The idea has evolved into something more functional as well as far more portable. 

Challenges- One of our greatest challenges is making everything precise and in harmony with each other. The tracks on the top and bottom of the machine have to line up prefectly with each other and the wheel and axle. Notching the sides and making sure they fit together perfectly is a skill that got more efficient along the prototypes, but the level of precision is  absolutely vital to the success of the machine.

Iterations

Our first iteration was designed out of cardboard and was modeled to be approximately half the size of our final product. The cardboard was a nice place to start because it helped us with the sizing. In this first model, Gaby and I created notches in the sides so the pieces would fit together. This idea was carried on throught all of the drafts. A major flaw in this draft turned out to be the pulley wheels because the shape was negatively affecting the spinning capability. In this iteration, the slot for the camera holder was on the top becuase the pulley string was in alignment with the slot. 

For the second iteration, our design rotated. Having the iphone track rest on the top would weigh down the string making it impossible for it to move. So, we rotated the slot to the side and made a rolling slider to hold the iphone so it would glide smoothly. In this iteration, we also found it very important to put tracks inside the box becuase otherwise the slider camera wheels wouldn't stay straight. The motor would have to be added at some point, so we decided to create a spot for the motor to sit. This required mesuring the holes in the motor, and spacing them so the screws would fit. 

For the third iteration, we made all the walls lie flush against each so the structure would become less wobly, and we also trimmed the bottom so it could lie flat. The tracks on the last track didn't fit the wheels perfectly so we also had to adjust for that too. Finding the right size tracks was difficult because the wood caused a lot of friction between the wheels, and this caused them to not go in a straight line. To solve this problem, we decided to make a track along the side of the wall keeping it in place. Another part of this iteration was the pulley wheels. We had 3D printed them, but they didn't fit perfectly, so we decided to make them bigger by drilling into them. This idea worked, and resulted in a fully functional un-motorized iphone pully. Steps to come include programming the motor.