Independence Weekend

It was so amazing time cerebrating America’s and Malawi’s independence. I started my cerebration on Wednesday by going to watch the Dynamo game. It was so exciting and such a spectacular thing to be part of. The fireworks after the game were so amazing and so beautiful. On Thursday, Iwatched the fireworks at the Hermann Park after the symphony perfomance. On Friday, I travelled to Dallas with some Malawian interns where with some Malawians living in Texas there was a cerebration dinner and a soccer game on Saturday. There were so welcoming and encouraged us o work hard in our projects. There were so interested in our work and excited of our progress.

Week 5

Itsbeen a very busy week and 8 hours seem to fly by. I cannot believe its already Thursday.

Its like we skipped Tuesday and Wednesday, it has been that crazy.

This week started on a very different note as we had to change so much from the design that we chose to go forward with. The Design was to be adjusted forward using a ratchet hinge and that was the main system we wished to go forward with. To our dismay, the ratchet hinge was such a hard idea to implement, ratchet hinges are not sold on their own rather as part of machines and it was hard to find a ratchet hinge that can support 250 pounds without breaking. We were advised by our supervisors to review our way forward and come up with a workable solution. As a group with assistance from our supervisors, we made a new design that resembles a hammock sling chair.

Monday, 8th July

Created a low fidelity prototype of the new design resembling the hammock sling chair. We added rods in the sides for support. From this we learnt that we needed to revise its attachment not to be exactly like a hammock chair rather only four ropes to the carabiners.

We then moved forward to create a medium fidelity prototype from fabric. We dimensioned and started sewing the design. We were unable to complete the design as we had a lot of problems with the sewing machines. It was my first time to use an electronic sewing machine and the other group members had never sewed before. I tried on many scrap fabric but still could not get the right settings on the sewing machines.

Hammock sling chair first prototype

Tuesday, 9th July – Wednesday, 10th July

We continued on the medium fidelity prototype and luckily finished. Where we couldnt sew on the electric sewing machine, we did by hand. I was getting better and better and with research i got the settings right. After setting the machine, the work was more faster that on Monday.

We tested the device and it failed as there was a tear and when we started it tore off. From this failure we learnt of the stress points and places we needed to change the sewing technique. The sewing machines were still giving some problems but we were moving forward.

We made another prototype with wider seat and back and run another test. From this prototype we learnt of the need for leg comfort insertions and a less wider back.We also got ideas on how to insert the lumbar support and neck support.

second prototype

Thursday, 11th July

We started the day by dividing ourselves into two groups and each group was to make its own prototype with different changes so that we can test by the end of the day. We were provided with more fabric which was great as we need to make as many prototypes as possible. By the end of the day we were only able to finish one prototype as the sewing machines kept jamming and we had to do some sewing by hand. I had to teach the other team members so that we could do it together. It was a slow process but luckily, Dr Hunter and Grant fixed one machine and we used it to finish one of the prototypes.

Hoping to test it tomorrow and see how well the improvements we have made have affected the design.

 

sewing the D rings

I have learnt so much in this week and am happy that i can push myself to achieve more.

Till next week, Happy minds work better.

Chiso