Engineering Projects/DinoModel/Howard Community College/Fall2012/p1-504-nathan

This is designed for a person working on a project for 4 weeks as part of a 3 credit class. Please copy this form to your user page. Then delete everything in italics when filling out this form.

Week0 Activities

Write problem/project Goal

My goal is to recreate the way people create dinosaur action figures. Most dinosaur figures nowadays are hard and stiff, and they hardly seem too realistic. Also, they have a limited range of motion, in which some dinosaurs can't even move their mouthes (ex. ceratopsians/stegosaurs). I want to create something less stiff and more flexible. My figures will actually have an equal range of motion as their real live counterparts.

My First Task

I will begin by creating the skull of my first prototype.

Week1 Activities

Summary of actual work over first weekend

I used the drumel tool, drill, and handsaw to mold wood pieces into dinosaur skull shapes. First I cut small pieces of wood from available platforms. Then I used the drumel tool to shape the edges of the piece into a narrow snout. Unlike clay, wood is hard and brittle, not soft and flexible. It requires proper precision to cut it into a specific shape without ruining it, even with specially designed tools. I decided to make Tyrannosaurus my first prototype skull. But the final product looked more like Giganotosaurus. I decided to keep it for reference (and for a future Giganotosaurus body).

Week1 Narrative

I did some research on dinosaur skeletons to better understand their basic structure.

My Second Task

Construct a second prototype skull with a hinge jaw.

Week2 Activities

Summary of actual work over second weekend

After my first prototype failed, I decided to give the Tyrannosaurus skull another try. This time, not only was I successful in molding the exact shape, but I also had a new plan. When I carved the skull out, I also left a small yet thick panel of wood at the back of the bottom of the skull. When the time comes, I can use that panel to create a functional mandible.

Week2 Narrative

I gathered some ball joits stripped from some of my old toys to create poseable joints.

My Third task

Complete the hinge jaw.

Week3 Activities

Summary of actual work over third weekend

How is what you did different than what you planned?

Week3 Narrative

Tell a detailed story describing what you did for your team over the weekend.

My Fourth task

Record what you are planning on doing for the team during the final weekend of project work.

Week4 Activities

Summary of actual work over fourth weekend

How is what you did different than what you planned?

Week4 Narrative

Tell a detailed story describing what you did for your team over the weekend.

Complete Team Page

Fill out the Team Form (should have already copied the form, created the team page, linked to it and started filling it out).