Help - Chelsea HS (MI) Team 1502 needs Mechanical Mentors ASAP

[kmcclary]

Greetings (and HELP!),

Chelsea HS Team 1502 needs a couple of ME (mechanical engineering)
type mentors ASAP. We just lost our *only* Chrysler ME due to a
family health crisis.

If anyone knows of any mechanically adept adults in the Chelsea MI
area, we'd appreciate some help! We're really seeking *at least* TWO
mechanical mentors, one to help our Drivetrain construction group,
and one to help the Manipulation students (payload / game package) ,
but ANY help would be appreciated!

[edit]... Even if only for a few days! [/edit]

Status: We definitely know what we wish the robot to do, and
have both the drivetrain and game package defined. What we
need now are individuals with ME backgrounds to take over helping
the students make the BOMs, order proper parts (not already on
order), and guide them through the fab and assembly phases,
to pick up where our previous mentor left off.

We have a VERY good budget, so purchasing parts and materials
will NOT be a problem. The kids just need to know WHAT to buy!

We're meeting Mon-Tue and Thu-Fri evenings, and full Saturdays
at Chelsea HS, room 506. (The kids meet every day, but Wednesdays
are short days for us, so mentors aren't expected then.)
Note that Mentors do not have to be there every day. Just enough
to help queue the work for the students and keep them on track.
Further technical problem solving help can often be accomplished
via email when a mentor can't be there.

But these next two weeks are critical, as we must get the
primary fabrication completed by then, to stay on schedule.
Without purchase orders in, we're losing ground daily. I'm afraid
we may find ourselves in a shipping crisis if this isn't solved quickly.

Perks: FYI... Besides the "local game" at GLR (Ypsilanti MI), we're
also scheduled for both the Boilermaker (Purdue, in Indiana), AND
we have a confirmed slot for the Championships! 1502's policy
includes providing ALL mentors transportation AND hotel rooms at any
"away games", so here's your chance to attend the Championships
on us!

So if you know of ANYONE in the area that can help us with
at LEAST a few days of mechanical mentoring (to help us get
us back on track), please contact either myself (CDF:kmcclary),
or Team Contact Deb Bentley (CDF:dbentley) directly, ASAP.

Thanks!

- Keith

[JoeXIII'007]

Team 66 would like to know what days you work during build season and what days you will need help. We don't know what we could offer yet, but if we know what days you work, we might be able to provide some assistance.

-Joe

[kmcclary]

Originally Posted by JoeXIII'007

Team 66 would like to know what days you work during build season and what days you will need help. We don't know what we could offer yet, but if we know what days you work, we might be able to provide some assistance.

-Joe

Thanks for the offer! YES! We'd love some help!

FYI all: We're STILL really looking for one or two full time MEs (or
FIRST HS school grad) mentors that live in the area to join the
team.

But YES, we could REALLY use a couple of "loaner" engineers
for at least a few days to help the mech groups (drivetrain and manip)
get back on track. Can you (or anyone else) help us with that?

Tasks required: We DO have the main drive parts on order now
(wheels, trannies, etc.). What we need is some engineering help
for the students on all the darn piddling DETAILs...
- Creating a connective design that won't jam up with these darn
sticky balls going everywhere, within the space AND weight
specs (That's NOT easy this year! I've watched a LOT of ball
widgets jam in past contests. Advice from someone with prior
FIRST "ball handling widget" design experience is highly desired!)
- Make up any shopping lists still required, select vendors & P/Ns
- Help students select gear ratios and sprocket types
- help design the payload's packaging/layout
etc...

Can you (or anyone else in the area) help the students with that?
Our current mentors are already saturated with other tasks. We
have plenty of cash this year to buy things, just insufficient
mentors in this small town to help them choose WHAT to buy
(or fab)!

That's why we're searching for ME help, to tie it all together.
IOW, We need someone knowledgeable in FIRST ball handling
to lead the students through some payload structural packaging
designs, chicken scratch out some assembly drawings on
napkins (are there any other kind??? ), and assist them in
making up their Purchasing BOM lists.

We're pretty sure that if we could just borrow a couple of
Mech Engineers for a day or two, long enough to at least
get their design detailed out and the parts ordered, we'd
be back on track. I think we could probably manage the
fab and assembly from there.

CHS Robotics build location:
Chelsea HS Room 506 - Freer Rd, Chelsea MI. 48118
Room is just inside last door on northern-most edge of building,
immediately past "Music Dept Parking Only" signs and the
long glass wall. Plenty of open parking in the lot just past
the doorway.

Directions from I-94 westbound: Take Exit 162, turn right
and head west into town on Jackson Rd (the paved one).
First light you hit is Freer Rd. Turn RIGHT onto Freer. Ignore
school on LEFT side (it's an Elementary school). CHS is the
next one, on the RIGHT side, about a mile north of it.
***WARNING*** Freer Rd. recently went to 25 MPH along
the entire length, and it's heavily patrolled with speed traps!
When you see the high school, turn right into main lot, follow drive
around building on LEFT side until you see aforementioned doors.

CHS Robotics shop hours:
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri - after school (~3pm) until 8 PM
(Mentors start showing up after their work, about 5-6.)
Wed - after school until 6pm (most mentors skip this one...)
Sat - Noon - 8PM
Sun - none

Food Note: We "cater" in one meal (parents sign up to feed troops)
on M, T, Th, F and Sat, so no one has to leave for food. (We eat
*very* well!) On Sat, food is the evening meal, so everyone
eats before coming in, and packs own snacks for the afternoon.
There are also vending machines available for snacks, pop [soda],
and bottled water.

Today (Fri, 1/20) is a special work day: Noon - 8pm, since it's the
last day of Finals week for CHS. Food will be provided today.

Again, if anyone can help us either by joining us, or loaning us
a couple of MEs for a few days, please contact either me or
Deb Bentley directly (addresses above), and let us know how
you can help, and when you might be able to be there, so
we're sure all of the proper students are present.

Thanks!

- Keith

[JoeXIII'007]

OK, thanks for the times, dates, and locations. I have e-mailed my team leader with a link to this thread, he'll contact the MEs on our team, and then we'll see what comes from that. No garuntees, but we'll see what we can do.

-Joe

[Jim Zondag]

Keith, Team #33 will help you in any way we can. Ultimately we have the same sponsor (DCX Sci Labs) so we are sister teams. Our distance from you will probably prevent us from being able to help you too much directly, but we will can help you with design, software, part fabrication etc. Give me a call or email if you read this and we will see what we can do for you. jez@dcx.com, 248-576-4440

[otimos]

as a member of 1549 living within the depths of the WCC machine shop we are within a closer proximity to aid with parts fabrication or general "shaking out of the bugs" we share a member already why not progress to sharing resources?