Marginal Stability Channel Sliders
Marginal Stability Channel Sliders
Design
My solution to this was simply a sliding component with a slot to allow it to slide past the bolt. This component would be cut out of an aluminum plate and either welded or adhesively bonded to the ejection plate.
Analysis
Analysis of this component was very simple: a static simulation with the bottom face fixed and the top face bearing the load of the actuator. A minimum FoS of 1.5 was maintained.
Conclusions
This component reached the pre-PDR stage (combined with mounting plate), but this was cut short due to the cancellation of Marginal Stability.
A Look Back
If I were to tackle the same design problem today with my more advanced skillset, I would consider a few more things:
Use of 3D printing for these components due to the relatively low loads they experience (100 lbf) in order to decrease mass and cost
Buckling analysis to investigate the outward normal forces that would be exerted against the C-channel wall, which could inhibit movement due to friction
Mitigation of friction (linear slider problem) by means of geometry, material selection, coatings, and/or surface preparation