Paper Airplane Building Machine: Paper Folding Mechanism

摘要

The project was motivated by an ASME 2016 design challenge. The challenge was to design and manufacture a device that would turn a single sheet of paper into a paper airplane and launch it. The project is divided into three portions. The three portions are the frame and paper loading, folding mechanism, and launching. The circumference equation is used, to determine what the proper speed of the paper loading motor is. Notably, a slow rpm motor is needed for the loading mechanism to prevent the paper from being damaged. To avoid any deflection in the frame, the total weight of the machine had to be considered. The shear and moment diagram is used to calculate the reaction forces, and to calculate the proper thickness of the material being used. Four motors are used for the paper loading and folding processes, in which each motor has fifteen RPM. Additionally, two linear actuators are used in the paper folding process. Moreover, the launching process requires two motors, each has fifteen thousand RPM. All of the motors that have been mentioned require a twelve-volt battery. Both the launcher motors and the actuators are connected to a single battery. For the other motors, each two motors are connected to one battery. Each battery is connected to on-off switch. As a result, the machine is able to fold a standard sheet of paper into an airplane shape and launch it within 2 minutes. The launcher is able to shoot the paper airplane 10 meters.