Below is the random writings throughout the project and well.......I decided this is a portion of the project book I created that has all my sketches and information in it. For fun here it is more ramblings......
Entry #1
Sept 2nd.
The first thing I wanted to do in this design challenge was to get my thoughts in order. To start planning the adventure, to document as much as I could. As I would certainly want to do if I was off world and alone. Or even for others as a guide/manual to further themselves with things that have been tested and proven. The first entry will be the longest. Going forward, updated notes and progress will be in the following pages. Yes these tests are all done on earth and will be more hypothetical situations along with some imagination. Today I started making my notes, questions, to-do list and just started my parts list.
Entry #2
Sept 3rd.
Today was a reflection day with more time researching and planning for the days to come. From what I have done so far seems like just a small step. But I know the time ahead will have to be calculated to such a great extent to be able to pull this off. I hopefully by tomorrow will have most of my parts list and idea's sorted.
Entry #3
Sept 22nd
Was such a great math game tonight trying to calculate 1m3. Finally I got somewhere close to the number attempting to use as much space as I possibly could without physically seeing the area I to work with. Final dimensions if I calculated right will be 20" x 42" x 72" Lets see what happens next.
Entry #4
Making sure I can source materials that if needed in a off world area. Where materials may be scarce having a kit that can be started and added on to with materials that may be able to be salvaged from other items. Having as much info as possible will be key to hopefully making the kit portable light and easy to setup. The worst part of the process is having so many ideas but eliminating ideas before even getting to test and get results from. Back to the planning the time is ticking.
Entry #5
A pile of new ideas have started to come to light. Currently focusing on the enclosure. To many options time to sort by strength of the material and weight.
Entry #6
This might be a longer entry seems like a lot has changed over the course of the last few days. But nothing to fear we need food with the care package of materials exploding on impact our resources are now even more limited. A lot of wishful thinking on my part that it would arrive. So now some changes have to be made as now resources have to be spread even thinner. So today we push on and forward. We will have to scale things down and adjust accordingly for the time and continuing our adventure. The system will now be smaller but should be sufficient until we can expand now using materials more so of whats laying around vs having a care package the next few days should yield some great results or if not we may find ourselves in great danger of things to come. Good luck to the other and I hope all goes well as humanity we will always continue to push ourselves and learn from what we have done and experienced. I hope you find some comfort in knowing we are not alone in the challenge and we will learn from each other.
Entry #7
At the current time, I am finally starting the 3d printing process of the main support structure. I was able to acquire some 3/4 inch EMT conduit. Which Might not seem like the best for the main structure it will add the strength that will be needed regardless of location it's placed. I did a quick and dirty prototype design from there I picked it apart and adjusted its design accordingly to my needs. I am using a 1.5mm layer height to give it a more tighter seal between the layers. Hoping this will also prevent any layer separation within the printed parts. I will be using self tapping screws to secure each part to the conduit.
Entry #8
After much searching and looking for parts on space shuttles and even on the supplies available on the ISS. I found more abundance of rail then any conduit. This being said the hand rails in the Russian section was the main source of round stock that could be usable as in other section the hand rail system was upgraded. This being said if all else fails a design with the abundance of hand rail available I may have to attempt a secondary design to much further make use of the resources.
Entry #9
Slight change in structure size in the finished design it should be 60"x30"x30 @ 0.885m3 which then gives me slight room to have anything that might come up in the design flaws or placement with the room it may require.
Entry #10
It's been a bit since my last post in the log book here as much has transpired since then. So when it comes to the structure of the unit I am finding too many expensive and not practical ideas for the enclosure. Trying to find materials that would be accessible in space as well as on earth seems to be a big chore. I know finding the right materials will be key. I know the electronics portion should and hopefully will go a bit more smoothly.
Entry #11
Just about to start testing a few materials for the enclosure having a strong enough base to the unit for on a more gravity based area. Versus a zero gravity situation. Once again not being able to test in both areas seems to be the biggest hurdle in the whole process.
Entry #12
Well tons have been happening and I got to say so much has happened. I decided going the cheapest route was the best way to go I scavenged a bunch of cardboard to make it on the best possible budget. Now in space there would be other materials available. Since I had paint available I would spray pain the cardboard. Most of the unit was painted white but then I ran out of it so found some left over silver only parts I have left to construct is the front and the electronics door.
Entry #13
The electronics panel has been something of a chore I thought I would be able to do a snap together puzzle like add on boards to the side panel. This really didn't work in my favour. Lately I think I have been finding more and more things going not in my favour but I must get things going sooner then later we need to start to get the growing process going.
Entry #14
Ended up swapping the printed panels for a more wooden panel as it was what I had available. I will have to reconsider my design of my 3d printed parts in the future but for now we are going to just go with what is available.
Entry #15
There has been tons of water leaks today more then I wished for. But great news the lights are finally working but we are not out of the woods yet as more things come up we will have to think of what to do.
Entry #16
Armed with the Raspberry Pi and some relays and pumps and more printed parts I have recently gotten everything up and running its been one heck of a battle the seeds are now planted and monitoring system is up and running. We will see what comes up next there is so much left to do when it comes to the project but we are seeing some life in it now and all hope is not lost we have a future to look forward to in becoming self sustaining in our efforts.
Entry #17