Project Overview

This year, I’ve been working on a series of small, focused projects that all contribute to a larger goal, of designing and building an ornithopter. Each task helped me learn new skills in 3D design, prototyping, and engineering, all leading to my final concept.

Finial Design

This is the design that is in the process of being built. I am currently attaching the wings to the frame of the project. The design consists of a mix of balsa wood, ply wood, 3d printed parts, and laser cut acrylic parts. The tail is going to be built out of foam board as well.

Outcome of the Project

With this project, I made vast improvements from where I started. I planned to have a working prototype done before the end of school, but I was unsuccessful with my goal. However, I have started the building stage. Currently, right now, I am building the gearbox, and I am happy to say that the gearbox is working as intended.

Conclusion

Overall, I’m proud of my work this year. I didn’t fully meet my goals, but I learned a lot, especially about scale, scope, and iterative prototyping. I’m excited to keep developing the project over the summer.

Road Map

This is what’s going to be next for the project.

• The Next Month:
  • Finalize gearbox assembly
  • Assemble the wing
  • Conduct an early glide test
• August - September:
  • Start and early Integration of the wing movement
  • Conduct an early wing movement test

Creative / Personal

These are some of the projects that I was unable to implement into this main design.

Design 1

This prototype was my first attempt. I where I over complicate it. When I started building, I wanted to create a grand, complex project. As I designed it, I realized it had too many moving parts, and I needed to scale back the complexity.

If you look at it from this angle, I was trying to take an entire weight onto a way too small wheel. What I did after learning about this was redesign this entire part to make it much simpler. I then switch to a more module approach which you see in my render.

Gear Box Design 1

This was my next idea of converting a rotation movement to a liner movement. I wanted to use a scotch yoke for this design. However, when I started working on it there were too many moving designs and I shifted gears to work on a different design.

My next design I went for a half and half approach. Some of the design were made out of arcrylic and some of the design were made out of resin. From that I was able to conclude that this design was the best for strength.

Tools & Skills Used

• Onshape (3D Modeling)
• Laser Cutting
• 3D Printing
• Prototyping with Balsa and Foam
• Mechanical Linkage Design
• Iterative Testing & Redesign