Mendocino Motor

Project Description

We will be constructing a Mendocino motor, and testing whether the four-sided or six-sided design is more efficient or effective.

Equipment List

20 rare earth magnets*
4 small solar cells*
6 small thin solar panels*
20 gauge copper wire*
metal rod
2 plastic bases
plastic four-sided housing
plastic six-sided housing

We will use a 3d printer to make the bases and housings.

Week 1 Narrative

We started researching the basic design of the motor, and assigning jobs. On the Internet we were able to find several videos and pictures of the motors, and also articles explaining how to make your own. We found several magnets in the lab, but still needed two more to make a prototype of the levitation component of the motor. At the seminar on Thursday Mr. Foerster made an announcement saying that we needed microwaves to take apart for their magnets.

Week 2 Narrative

This week Zack brought a prototype housing for the motor (Pictures Above), and a microwave, which we disassembled. We took out two magnets, and a device we think is an electromagnet. We also drafted a proposal of what we mean to do, and who is going to do it. It still needs to have certain parts edited into a different format.

Week 3 Narrative

We spent this week preparing a presentation that we gave to the class. Afterwards we were asked to give the presentation to the seminar next week. Zack and I also worked on getting the parts request to Mr. Foerster. The things in the equipment list marked with asterixes are the things we need to buy.

Week 4 Narrative

This a prototype of the Motor.

On Tuesday; Austin made a prototype of the levitation component of the Mendocino motor. He used a piece of plywood for the base, magnets, three metal rods, and clay (to hold the magnets onto the plywood). On Thursday we gave the presentation on the motor to the seminar. Our presentation was met with approval.

Week 5 Narrative

Zack, and I are working on getting the components ordered. We will be ordering twenty rare earth magnets; four, 95mm x 51mm solar panels; six, 90mm x 25mm solar panels; and one, three hundred fifteen feet roll of copper wire. We have sent the request to Mr. Foerster, but have not gotten a response. In the request we included the dimensions, and brand of everything; the solar panel's efficiency, peak voltage, and peak current; the magnet's pull force, and plating material; and the copper wire's gauge, and diameter.

Week 6 Narrative

Things have been slowing down as we wait for our parts to come in. That being said, Austin has taken apart a hard-drive, for its brushless motors. He is going to find out whether the solar panels or the brushless motors are more efficient at generating power, so we can determine if it would be practical to use the Mendocino motor for a power source (this was a suggestion someone at the seminar forwarded). Zach spent this week designing the base and housing of the motor. I worked on the Wikiversity page.

Week 7 Narrative

We were asked to create a power point presentation on Tuesday, and give it on Thursday. I started it on Tuesday and finished it on Wednesday. I could not come to class on Thursday because I was sick, so I do not know how the presentation went. Zach is still working on the 3d printing file for the base and housing, and Austin is experimenting with the brushless motors.

Week 8 Narrative

We gave the power-point on Tuesday, and afterwards Mr. Nithianandam suggested as a project (not as a possible project, due to its level of involvement), to use a certain mathematical formula, and an arduino connected to an electromagnet to determine, and increase the stability level of the motor while it is spinning. On Thursday Zack brought a six-sided housing (pronted from a 3d printer) to class. Austin and I began the construction of the four-sided motor by wrapping the copper wire around the housing of the motor.

Week 9 Narrative

Prototype

On Tuesday Austin wrapped the copper wire around the six-sided housing, and we constructed a prototype of the six-sided housing. On Thursday Zack tried to print out the base, but something happened to the printer... resulting in the picture on the lower right.

Mendocino motor base trial #1 failure

Week 10 Narrative

On both Tuesday and Thursday I started making a Google Sketch-up of the four-sided motors' housing and the base. Thursday evening Austin and I presented what we have of the motor at the "project day". Austin had re-wrapped the motor the night before, but it still does not work... He is going to try re-wrapping it again on Tuesday.