Log February 15, 2012

This week I have been absent due to recent illness. However, the use of the contact cement has been successful under the following conditions:
1) Use of gloves (contact cement is highly sticky and is not safe to touch with bare skin)
2) outdoor use (there is a stench involved with the contact cement that makes the user light-headed if there is not proper ventilation)
3) Fan dry (the tank cannot dry outside but it needs to dry for approximately twenty four hours so it sits under a fan for proper ventilation)

Log February 10, 2012

After creating a model with the paper box top, I have begun work on another box tank to confirm that the new strategy would be water proof and effective. i have covered each corner separately, and covered the tank horizontally, and will begin covering the tank vertically on Monday when the shop is open. So far the contact cement is working well with the new strategy. I believe the previous difficulties were due to lack of experience with the adhesive. In the most recent model, with the most care involved in it, you can clearly see how much difference knowing the strength and consistency of the adhesive has made.

Log February 7, 2012

This week, I have been working on a model for the tank. After recent failures with contact cement and liner with the old idea for the tank, I have come to realize that the previous strategy would not be effective. Using the top of a paper box, and some large sheets of paper, I have been creating a model of the new strategy for lining the tank.

Log February 3, 2012

This week I have been completing construction on a model to demonstrate and practice key procedures in the construction of the tank. The primary reason for this model is to practice waterproofing on a small scale. This has proven to be a challenging task with much to be learned still. So far this has been a good week with much progress. The tank has been lined and glued with testing to be completed on Monday February 6.

Log January 3, 2012

This week, my group and I have been focusing on the slingshot aspect of out VEX robot. We have cut the PVC pipe for the apparatus, and experimented with the scissor mechanism on the rear end of the sling shot to cut the twine holding the elastic. While the scissors have shown little success so far, we continue to experiment with it. I also looked online at liquid rubber which I was hoping to use in the tank, and have explored new possibilities for lining the interior of the tank.