Update

During our last class, we have been working on presentations, and three of the subgroups have completed their presentations. However our turn is on the 28th, and we have been finishing up our calculations and CAD drawings on Solid works.  Our team is also contacting sellers for the linear actuators for our design. So far we have gotten the specifications, and we think we have found the right actuators at a reasonable price for our design.  The price so far comes up to about $200 each, for total of 3 linear actuators needed.

 

http://www.learneasy.info/MDME/MEMmods/MEM30009A/lifting_systems/ball_screw_actuator.jpg

Rough Sketches of the Finalized Design

The final design we have decided on (Figure 1) is utilizing 3 linear actuators to control the tilt, and the lifting and lowering of the cabin. We are not considering the sideways swaying motion, and completely eliminating the mobility. The final design would only allow two degrees of freedom, up and down linear movement, and front to back tilt.

The design consists of two main parts:

1. Upper - 3 linear actuators to control the the lowering and tilting functions. When traveling straight, the actuators would be locked allowing no sway of the body.

2. Lower - Newly thought of design utilizing box / slider design along with two coil overs to dampen the linear vibration that could be created by the track. See Figure 2. Credit must be given to our team leader Scott.

Figure 1: Rough Sketch of the final design

Figure 2:  The vibration dampening mechanism