FUN lab? Crazy lab?

ENG1081
Fun Lab 4

Rube Goldberg (Silly) Machine
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OBJECTIVE

Design and build a machine to turn off an alarm clock with a series of mechanical motions where one mechanical motion triggers the start of another mechanical motion. You must bring your own alarm clock.


RULES for MECHANICAL MOTIONS

a. Exactly 5 mechanical motions must be combined in series, one followed by another.
b. The 5 mechanical motions must all be different.
c. The only mechanical motions allowed are
1. Sliding
2. Rolling
3. Rotating (in one direction only) about a fixed axis
4. Oscillating (at least two complete oscillations/cycles)
5. Falling under gravity through air
d. The 5 different motions do not have to be in the order above.
e. Each type of motion must involve only one object. The object must be different for different motion.


OTHER RULES

1. Every part of the machine must be set up and operate within a floor area of 1.0m x 1.0m. All loose or moving components must remain within this set boundary.
2. You are not allowed to use any hazardous materials to build your machine.
3. No electrical devices are allowed, besides the alarm clock itself.
4. No magnetic devices are allowed.
5. Water is not allowed. Grains (rice, sand, etc) are not allowed.
6. You will be allowed to perform only one action to start-up your machine (by letting go of the object for the first motion) and the machine is expected to perform all the 5 mechanical motions in a serial manner by itself. Only one member of the team is allowed to perform the initial action.
7. The cycle starts when you perform the initial action and ends when the alarm clock has been turned off. The cycle must be more than 20 seconds.
8. You will be given up to a maximum of 3 tries to run your machine.
9. Each group must ensure that their allocated area is absolutely CLEAN at the end of their lab session. No marks will be given otherwise!
10. The decisions of the judges are final.


Diagram & Description of Machine

Sketch a diagram of your machine and give a brief description of each mechanical motion. Use the template below. This is to be handed in just before your lab session begins. Your design must not be different from the ideas that are presented. You will not be allowed to start your machine without the diagram and description.

Marks

A total of 18 marks are awarded if all the rules are adhered to and the machine achieves the objective successfully. 2 marks maximum are allocated for creativity of your design.

Penalties will be imposed for the following:
• After the initial action is performed, 2 marks will be deducted each time any human intervention is done to continue the sequence when your machine does not work at an intermediate step. You are allowed up to a maximum of 2 human interventions.
• If your machine fails to complete all the remaining motions after 2 human interventions, 2 marks will be deducted for each remaining motion not completed.
• 4 marks will be deducted if the cycle time is less than 20 seconds."

Taken from MONASH WEBDRIVE, LAB WRITER, TUTOR AND WHOEVER IT MAY CONCERN.
I am sorry, I realise plagiarism is not allowed. So I QUOTED it " x ". Credit given.