Session 7

Session 7

The primary focus of session 7 was to finish cutting out the planes and begin building assembling the airframes. During the original planning phase the class was set to run 7 sessions. Being that this program is a first run program we were not sure exactly how much time would be needed. In the end it looks like we will need 9 or 10 total sessions but with our great partners at Piedmont Middle this will not be a problem.

When it comes to assembling the planes students need to tape the airframe to add more strength to the material. They also has to attach their vertical stabilizers and make holes for mounting the power plant and control structure. Being that components are positioned relative to this power plant and control structure we often refer to it as a "template." It is the white section in the image above. The "template contains the motor, speed control, RC receiver, servos that will move the elevons and the lithium polymer batteries that will power the plane. Discovery Place has also designed and 3D printed a micro camera holder, the green part in the image above,  for each "template." The hope is to get some great in flight video.

At this point in the program there are students at 3 different stages of assembly. In total we have 20 students each building their own airplane to fly.  

The next session will take place at Piedmont Middle. The goal is to get some first flights done, but we are not likely to get that far. The goal of the next session will be for students to connect their 3D printed elevon connects to the elevons. They will also need to cut and bend their control rods that connect the servos to the elevons.The flights will likely happen during session 9.



Session 6

Session 6

The primary focus of session 6 was to finish marking out planes on foam board and to cut the planes out. For this task student used hot knives. A hot knife is a soldering iron with an exacto blade on the end. We handed these tools to middle school students. Before cutting the class as a whole and each student one on one were given safety insturctions. We set up 4 cutting stations. Once they put on their googles and kevlar gloves students were required to show the teacher how they would cut safely.

This was done by showing standing position and cutting action to the instructor before begining. As each student demonstrated their ability to make a cut that was not directed toward any part of thier body they were set free to cut out thier airplane parts.

Students who were not cutting continued to help mark out airplanes on foam. As you may be able to tell from the large number of photos we also had some volunteer photographers. This group from Piedmont Middle has shown to be a great group of responsible and hard working students.

During the next session we will finish cutting out airframes and begin the basic assembly of the aircraft.