Rube Goldberg Machines s1

Design for Engineering Unit 2 Rube Goldberg Machines

Background

Who is Rube Goldberg? Reuben Lucius Goldberg (July 4, 1883 – December 7, 1970) was a cofounder and first president of the National Cartoonists Society. He is probably most well-known cartoonists in history. He will be long remembered for his "Rube Goldberg machines"—devices that are exceedingly complex and perform very simple tasks in a very indirect and convoluted way. This man will be immortalized as a man would poke fun at the way we make life’s tasks easier. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg

Overview: What is a Rube Goldberg Machine? A Rube Goldberg machine or device is any exceedingly complex apparatus that performs a very simple task in a far from simple way. Rube devised and drew several such absurd devices to show how silly we can be about simple tasks. The best examples of his machines have an anticipation factor. The fact that something so wacky is happening can only be topped by it happening in a suspenseful manner. A Rube Goldberg machine usually has at least ten steps. One story about Rube Goldberg is that while sleep-walking barefoot in a cactus field, he screamed out an idea about a self-operating napkin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg 2006 Greg Heitkamp This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402616.) Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Science Foundation (NSF). For a good look Rube Goldberg machines please use the following website and go to the gallery. http://www.rube-goldberg.com/

The Task: Students will design, build, and test a machine that will peel an apple in a minimum of ten steps. Students will be allowed to use everyday materials and transform them into wacky innovative machine that accomplishes the task. The assignment will also include step-by –step drawings of the systems and operation of the machine, development of working drawings, and a prototype.

Constraints: Project will be completed in 8 days. Project will have three hand drawn sketches with details and dimensions. (1 day) Project will have a group AutoCAD drawing with detail and dimensions for the project. (2 days) Project will include a complete description of every step of how the machine works. (1 day) 4 days to construct the Rube Goldberg Machine should work with no human intervention. Machine must complete the task with a minimum of ten steps. Machine must fit in a 24 x 24 x 24 area of PLYWOOD base. Everyone will work in groups of four or five each person will be assigned specific tasks for the project by the groups

2006 Greg Heitkamp This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402616.) Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Rules for the machine:  The machine must complete in no fewer than 10 steps. (A step being defined as a linear motion, not a parallel process. If a plane, for example moves up a wire and triggers a switch that would be one complete step. If the plane causes two things to happen, that would be a parallel result and would count as only one step. The description must be legible and concise.)  Deduction of points for any human intervention on the machine while in motion.  The machine must operate within these set dimensions (2 foot cube):  Height 2 feet  Width 2 feet  Depth 2 feet  A machine must not imply profane, indecent, or lewd expressions  A machine may not incorporate a live animal.  Any loose or flying objects must remain within the set boundaries of the machine  No combustible fluids, explosives, open flames, or hazardous materials.  A marble must be used to start the process.  Must have more than three simple machines.  No more than TWO MOUSE TRAPS.

Top View Start of Rube Goldberg Machine

Dominoes and short incline to mouse trap Turntable, knife to peel apple Tall incline ramp post to container for caramel

How this machine operates: 1. Push starts the marble 2. Marble rolls down incline into domino 3. Starting dominoes to fall down hitting another marble 4. Marble rolls down a short incline trips mouse trap 5a. Turning on the motor 5b. Trips a block releasing a marble to go down multistage incline plane. 6. Motor turns apple to be peeled 7. Marble trips a mouse trap 8. Mousetrap causes rope to be pulled 9. Pulled rope causes jar to spill caramel on the peeled apple.

Category 3 Above Average 2 Average 1 Below Average Three individual All sketches All sketches are All sketches are design sketches 25 completed. Turned in completed. Turned in completed. points on time with great on time with some Turned in little attention to details. attention to detail. attention to detail. Team CAD Drawing Drawing turned in on Drawing turned in on Drawing turned in on 25 points time with attention time with some time little attention to detail. Use of all attention to detail. to detail. Use of few dimensions Use of major dimensions dimensions Step by Step Very completed and Completed and some Turned in not very Description 35 detailed step by step details shown in each complete detail to points with attention to step. each step. small details of each step. Marble used to start Marble is used to Marble is used to Marble is used to process 10 points start process start process start process Minimum of 10 steps Used minimum of ten Used minimum of ten Did not use 10 steps. 25 points steps to complete steps Maximum 24 x 24 x Fit in the area Fit in the area Did not fit in the 24 25 points completely and easily completely area

Complete Task – Used only the 10 Used 10 to 15 steps Used more than 15 maximum 10 steps step minimum steps (select, clean, and peel an apple) 45 points Creativity 25 points Unique and unusual Used some original Used a tested idea way accomplish task thinking Team Cooperation 25 Everyone in the Everyone worked Did not work as a points group worked to toward the goal. unit. No cooperation. accomplish the Some division of project. Division of labor. labor

Standard 8: Students will develop an understanding of engineering design. H. The design process includes defining the problem, brainstorming, researching and generating ideas, identifying criteria and specifying constraints, exploring possibilities, selecting an approach, developing a design proposal, making a prototype, testing and evaluating the design specifications, refining the design, creating or making it, and communicating processes and results. I. Design problems are seldom presented in a clearly designed form. J. The design needs to be continually checked and critiqued and the ideas of the design must be redefined and improved. K. Requirements of a design, such as criteria, constraints, and efficiency, sometimes compete with each other.

Standard 9: Students will develop an understanding of engineering design. K. A prototype is working model used to test a design concept by making actual observations and necessary adjustments. L. The process of engineering design takes into account a number of factors.

Standard 11: Students will develop abilities to apply the design process. M. Identify the design problem to solve and decide whether or not to address it. N. Identify criteria and constraints and determine how these will affect the design process. O. Refine the design by using prototypes and modeling to ensure quality, efficiency, and productivity of the final product. P. Evaluate the design solution using conceptual, physical, and mathematical models at various intervals of the design process in order to check the proper design and note areas of where improvements are needed. Q. Develop and produce a product or system using the design process.