Initial Note Card Structural Experimentation

 Today, we (James and Hunter) designed a few different pillars to see which one would prove to be the most stable in our structure.  We made various pillars with triangular formations, some with one over-lapping edge to enhance the strength and keep them together and others with two over-lapping edges. We tested different heights as well to see what would be the most efficient for stacking but maintaining strength.  Then we tried circular formations.  The weakest circular pillar was not over-lapping but had slits cut into opposite sides of the card and then connected.  The circular formations overall proved strongest because of the repeated over lapping when wrapped around a pen for precision of consistency.  We are still discussing placement of the note cards under the textbook but we have decided to use a horizontal unfolded note card on top of each series of pillars.  In our best stress test, the more tightly wound note cards in a rectangular position protected the gummy bear for up to 45 lbs.  With these promising results, we observed that this formation of thin pillars was not as sturdy as we would have liked.  The attached pictures are of today's efforts.

Hunter is ready to go!

 A preliminary attempt with triangles.

 Thin Spirals.

The red gummy bear is a bit anxious!

The thin spirals holding 45 lbs! 

 An array of all the different types of pillars we tried.

Welcome to the LE Mechanics Blog!

We have begun initial brainstorming processes on the note card textbook support system and alternatively powered miniature automotive device.  In these initial stages Hunter proposed cylindrical forms as the basis for our note card textbook support system.  I (James) believe that triangles will be the perfect foundation for our textbook.  Even with these differences we will both have to agree which way to stack the note cards on top of each other works best.  Both of us will attempt to construct pillars, or whatever suits our imaginations, that we both believe will be the best our design choices can achieve.  Whichever design proves to be the most promising will be used, no hard feelings.