This week, the team focused entirely on designing and 3D printing parts for the plate scanner. They redesigned and printed several components but faced setbacks from parts not fitting correctly and prints warping. Going forward, the team plans to redesign the microscope stand to have two legs instead of four and integrate the threaded rods. They will test the scanner using graph paper and aim to have a fully functioning scanner by the end of the fourth block that can count tardigrades. Team members reported satisfaction around increased productivity and collaboration, but identified 3D printing issues and design setbacks as hindering progress.

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2. Round 3, Week 2:
M.B.T.S.
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3. Week overview…
This week was entirely plate
scanner oriented. Most of
the work done was all 3D
designing and printing.
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4. 3D printing
We redesigned and printed a lot
more parts for the plate scanner.
Our progress was slowed down
due to the fact that the printed
parts would often not fit and we
had to keep redesigning and
printing. The prints also
sometimes warped and at times
we had sizing problems.
Redesigned and printed:
- Microscope holder
- End caps for threaded rods
- Microscope lens connector
- Pulleys that attach onto the
threaded rods
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5. Plate
scanner
Where are we at?
After getting some feedback we are
going to revise the microscope
stand part of our plate scanner.
The our main focus is just going to
be to get the plate scanner working
manually.
The new stand design will have 2
legs instead of 4 and the threaded
rods will be integrated with the
smooth aluminum rods.
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6. Updated flow
diagram
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7. Plate scanner Test scenarios
To test if the plate scanner is working, we can use graph paper in the place of a
petri dish. We run the scan and if the lines on the graph paper line up when the
images are pieced together, we know the plate scanner is correctly synchronized.
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8. Plan for
next Block
We are planning to meet every
Sunday from 1PM-5PM to continue
working on the plate scanner.
Our plan and work for next block
will depend on how much work we
get done over non-expedition times.
However, by the end of the fourth
block, we will have to have a fully
running plate scanner that we can
count tardigrades with.
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9. Block 4 and non-expedition: Steps
required to complete plate scanner…
1. Redesign and print the smooth rod end cap - Holger
a. Should fit both the smooth rod and threaded rod
b. Connected to the aluminum rod on the bottom?
c. Slide fit?
2. Align microscope using aluminum piece - Christina, Drew, Justin
a. 3d print pieces to fit the ends together
b. Cut down aluminum pieces a bit more in order to make the rods perfectly parallel
3. Instead of a microscope stand w/ 4 legs, the new design should have 2. - Christina, Drew, Justin
a. Each end should have smooth rods w/ threaded rods attached on the outside where you can manually twist them up
move the bearings (connected to the microscope) up and down
4. Redesign and print the middle connecting piece that holds the microscope. - Justin
a. Aluminum rods should fit in a little tighter
b. Have a thread/twisting piece in the center where you hold the microscope so you can twist the microscope end piece to
make minor adjustments up and down to focus
5. Redesign and print microscope lens connector - Sean
a. Threaded on the inside, slip fit on the outside?
b. Make sure the microscope is working, distance between top and bottom lens could make a difference in focusing
c. Use the 4X lens
6. Attach LED strips to the bottom of the plate scanner to light the petri dish and maybe add a filter above it to control light
brightness - Holger 9

10. Sunday Schedules
Meeting on Sundays 1PM-5PM
We will start meeting on 3/25/18.
We will begin with 3D designing all the needed parts. Then we will focus on getting
all the prints done (revisions to the designs are likely needed). Finally, we will start
assembling and testing.
The first 2 meetings should be focused on creating all the needed 3D designs. Over
non-meeting times (weekdays) we should print the designs in order to save more
time. Meetings can then be used for just designing and revising.
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11. How we feel about this week….
Christina - 8.5 - I glad that the plate scanner is coming along and that we now have a clear plan of what we need to do in order to
have a fully functional plate scanner. The new design should also provide a stable plate which I didn’t think we had before. I am also
happy that everybody is working and we have a plan to work over non-expedition times. I would be a 9-10 if we didn’t have all the 3D
printing struggle we had and the fact that we had a setback with the plate scanner. I also feel like during this round, we all got to know
each other better.
Justin - 7 - Although we did get a good amount of work done, I feel like the setbacks we had (3D printer woes, emergency plate
scanner redesign, and microscope picture issues) brought down the net productivity of this week significantly. I do think that this week
set a good precedent for how we should be working together, however. If our 3D printer was working better, and we had a little bit more
progress to show after a week of hard work, I would be happier with how our week went, but I think it was good overall.
Drew - 8.3 - I wished the we finished the plate scanner, I felt like this block we had a lot of setbacks. But overall I think we got a good
amount of work done. I would a 9 if there were no 3D design flaws.
Holger - 9 - A lot more productive than last week. Problems with 3D printing though which is why I have a 9. To get to a ten, we
needed to have less problems with the 3d printer and more communication within CAD design.
Sean - 9 - We were more productive than last week and got a lot done. I feel like the setbacks we had definitely slowed down our
output. I do think that this week set a good precedent for how we should be working together, however, we need to work on
communication more. I would be a 10 if we didn’t have all the 3D printing struggle we had and the fact that we had a setback with the
plate scanner. I also feel like during this round, we all got to know each other better.
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