SourceAmerica
SourceAmerica Design Challenge
Delta Snap
During the 2016-2017 school year, my high school team competed in the SourceAmerica Design Challenge, a competition to design technology that helps people with disabilities in the workplace. Our team created a machine that helps people with disabilities assemble salt and pepper shaker caps, improving accuracy and efficiency.
The Problem
Accuracy
Salt and pepper shaker caps were often assembled incorrectly, with defect rates from about 1%-40%
Efficiency
Due to accuracy problems, every single cap had to be checked by a supervisor, which was extremely inefficient
Safety
Assembling the caps was difficult strenuous for the employees, and often led to pinched fingers.
The Solution
Delta Snap
Accuracy
Accuracy improved to 100%
Efficiency
Efficiency increased by 33.7%, largely due to the accuracy improvements removing the necessity of having a supervisor check each cap.
Safety
The device has numerous safety features, including a key switch, buttons that do not allow operation of the machine unless they are continuously pressed, and plexiglass guards. The machine also removes the strenuous and difficult parts of the job.
My Responsibilities
Heavy involvement in the following areas:
Wiring the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to the lights, solenoid valves, counter, and other electronics
Coding the PLC using Ladder Logic to control the sequence of machine operation
Communicating the results of our project in the technical paper and presentation