University of Houston Capstone Team 6 - Blog 7

University of Houston Capstone Team 6 - Blog 7

From 3/9/24 to 3/23/24, Seal Team 6 completed Milestone 4 and initiated task 5a. They finished assembling the PSTD (Polymer Spring Testing Device) and connected all the pre-wiring components. Multiple devices were rerouted to be powered from a single outlet. Data was collected from the MTS Insight unit at the SLB lab for theoretical comparison with the PSTD testing data next week. Client satisfaction was ensure on 3/22/24 (task 4e). The team is currently working on task 5a that involves comparing data from the MTS Insight unit and PSTD. 

From the work period of 3/24/24 to 4/6/24, Team 6 plans to complete two-thirds of the remaining project work. They're on track to complete tasks 5a and part of 5b by 4/6/24. Tasks include testing the compression mechanisms of the PSTD with approved client samples (task 5a) and analyzing spring behaviors of theoretical and actual data (task 5b). The goal is to complete these tasks by mid-April. 

Some obstacles the team may encounter in the next two weeks consist of completing validation and sample testing sections in a timely manner. While the team aims to conduct portions of these tests in the near-term, assembling the device has shown certain ‘growing pains’ requiring additional hardware to resolve before the team can move forward with validation. Progress has accelerated rapidly with members of the team visiting the SLB lab, allowing the electronics of the device to be assembled and load cell to be validated across a 0-5 [V] range. If the team can continue at this pace sample testing may be completed by the first week of April. If not, this deadline will have to be pushed back to accommodate these tests.

Figure 1 - Testing Heating Band, PID Controller, & Relay Compatibility

Figure 2 - Collecting Theoretical Data from the MTS Insight 

Figure 3 - Arduino Circuit Connection

Figure 4 - PSTD Final Design

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