Mechanical Development - Bottom and Pump Housing

Today, the team worked on the bottom section of our pod. Of focus in the bottom housing are the pump system for evacuating water out of the structure, as well as the filtration system with the fine mesh. Based on our electrical specifications, a boost converter was also required to step the voltage up for the pump, from the voltage output by the chosen LiPo batteries. Noting all the design requirements for the bottom section of the pod, a design was conceived in Solidworks, as shown in the following pictures.







As seen through the second picture, the area with the four hexagonal imprints would house the pump and the boost converter. Essentially, the pump would be press-fitted between the two through-holes, connecting the filtered water container (see top section of second picture) to the external hole. In addition to the pump and boost converter, the mesh will be screwed into the extruded platform in the top section of the second picture. With approx. 10 cm of space between the mesh and the top of the bottom section, the waste will have enough space to accumulate on top of the mesh, before a manual reset would be required (see post on Software Development process).

As per the experiments conducted with the locking mechanisms, based on the chosen lock, we have positioned pairs of hexagonal imprints at strategic points along the circumference of the pod. This was done such that the nuts could secure the locks in place, along with the chosen M6 screws.

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