Editing Appropedia talk:AT CAD Team

==Reducing manufacturing cost of designs==
An article should be made describing some guidelines on how the manufacturing cost of CAD designs can be lowered. 
Some examples:
* Using parts in the design that are already mass produced and that are globally or widely available reduces the cost allot. For example, ie tyres that are already manufactured for automobiles are frequently used as plant pots in permaculture designs, ...
* Reducing the amount of material needed is also useful. Dimensioning ie metal parts to only the thickness as required for the structure's rigidity, allows to produce more parts and will thus reduce the cost.
* ...
[[User:KVDP|KVDP]] 08:43, 13 April 2010 (UTC)

:Great suggestions - someone could start it as a stub, with these ideas. Though perhaps it's really "[[Appropriate technology design principles]]" rather than CAD design principles, since these are good ideas regardless of design technique.

:Note [[Principles of design]] - these should link together. --[[User:Chriswaterguy|Chriswaterguy]] 10:21, 14 April 2010 (UTC)

==AT Aircraft==
Reflecting on the [[Aircraft]] article created a while ago by Emesee, I was reminded of the one of my earlier ideas that aircraft could be used as a transport vehicle between AT villages. I envisioned simple, inexpensive DIY ultralight aircraft for this. However, seeing the little wing span, I think that this design could be well improved. I was thinking of using a cross-over between the [[Tokyo Institute of Technology]] Oxyride manned airplane project, the Solar Challenger and the NASA ARES aircraft. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Challenger , http://web.archive.org/web/20160617073732/http://marsairplane.larc.nasa.gov:80/platform.html (note the tail design), http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-148326743.html By maximizing the wingspan, and by using simple components/design, we can design a more cost/effective aircraft for this purpose.
[[User:KVDP|KVDP]] 16:24, 15 April 2010 (UTC)

==Improvement firebox/steam engine setup==
As discussed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Trains#Locomotive_diagram_quality , some improvements can (possibly) be implemented to the firebox/steam engine setup; these primarily involve the implementation of a steam exhaust injector. The purpose of this device was to force water into the boiler against the pressure within; and following its invention saw much greater use than a pump, because it had no moving parts. The power source of an injector may be either live steam (direct from the boiler) or exhaust steam (steam from the cylinders is normally passed to the blastpipe and up the chimney, but a proportion may be diverted to power an exhaust steam injector. I suggest these books:
* Handbook for Railway Steam Locomotive Enginemen. Hersham: Ian Allan. April 2006 [1957]. pp. 56-69. 0604/A1. ISBN 0 7110 0628 8.
* Hollingsworth, Brian (1981) [1979]. How to Drive a Steam Locomotive. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 20-24. ISBN 0 14 005529 0.
* Semmens, P.W.B.; Goldfinch, A.J. (2003) [2000]. How Steam Locomotives Really Work. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 94-101. ISBN 0 19 860782 2.
* "The Railway Data File". It is a 144-page hardback published in the UK in 1999 and includes loads of diagrams -- 30 pages on steam loco components alone.

Not sure about Hollingsworth, but the other two are still in print. The first one has many excellent coloured diagrams; Hollingsworth has black-and-white diagrams and photos, whilst Semmens & Goldfinch has a few b/w photos, just one diagram, and is mainly a textual description. --Redrose64

==3D model with EDA data==
Not sure whether the EDA-data can be imported into a Google SketchUp model (allows full design + EDA data to be present in a single file, which is more handy). If not possible KiCAD can be used, and I'm also wondering whether http://web.archive.org/web/20101012033230/http://www.virtualbreadboard.net:80/VBB/VBBHOME/tabid/166/Default.aspx is useful ?
[[User:KVDP|KVDP]] 08:11, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

==Uniformity in cutlery, plates and cups==
In the intrest of the possible design of an AT dish washer, we should first see on whether we can make the cutlery, plates and cups uniform (allready a challenge as many cultures have their own variations). In addition, we should look into ways on how to decrease the amount of items soiled during the day. Finally, for the dishwasher itself we should look on whether we need to change the frequently used setup: ie 1 rack for plates and cutlery, another (usually the top) for cups. Often the top rack is filled allot quicker than the lower one, which causes a delay. This probably needs to be reworked.

==Lemon grass insect repelling vaporiser or dry herb heater==
Another intresting design to make would be a lemon grass vaporiser; based on Journeytoforever's [ http://www.journeytoforever.org/edu_homer.html HOMeR] I'm not sure though whether it's best to use a dry herb heater, or a flame-based (or electric) vaporiser (using lemon grass tincture, diluted in water for vaporising, see http://web.archive.org/web/20141121172730/http://www.inhalatorium.com:80/page7.html). The seconf one may be better, but would require allot more work (otherwise, the herb can be simply shredded and heated (note: not burned !)

see [http://tv.sky.com/victorian-pharmacy Bronchial kettle] and http://web.archive.org/web/20171229052215/http://www.eoco.org.uk:80/acatalog/BURNERS_.html Dry herb heater (flame-based)]

Note: the HOMeR heater/vaporiser would only be an extra safety, the main protection from malaria, ... would come from artemisia annua

[[User:KVDP|KVDP]] 08:37, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

==Images==
* File:ATCADTeam pictogram.JPG
* File:ATCADTeam logo.JPG
These are the images used at google warehouse, uploaded them here too in case they are needed

==Noticeboard==
Perhaps that a [[Modelling progress of AT CAD projects]] would be useful on the page to show which modeller is working on what project. This to eliminate the problem that 2 modellers start working on the same project.
[[Special:Contributions/91.182.0.105|91.182.0.105]] 12:56, 4 October 2010 (UTC)

==Model linking==
The template for Google Warehouse can be used on the main AT CAD Team page; seperate projects can have a snapshot added of the 3D model on the article page, and a link can be supplied as the text with the thumbnail.

==Overlapping 3D components in projects==
Several models should use overlapping 3D models; this in order to improve efficiency for the AT workshops when they go live.

===Winch===
The winch/reel of the AT interstate traveller should be identical to the one at the AT airship

===3D model piston ===
The 3D model of the piston on the tiltable, rotatable platform on the modular solar tracking system should be the same as the piston on the at velomobile

==Blender==
Reply: [[Blender]] has got some sort of fluid dynamics simulation, I'm not sure if that is what you are looking for? ''OpenSource CAD and animation software'': [http://www.blender.org/development/release-logs/blender-240/fluids-simulation/ Blender.org] )

::Will look into it soon.
[[User:KVDP|KVDP]] 10:16, 7 March 2011 (PST)

== AT transport category ==

I have found a web page that could serve as inspiration for AT CAD Team: http://www.sakaramenta.com/
It is a startup that use scrapped bicycles and scrap-metal to build carts, ambulance and other Appropriate vehicles. This projects products are in this project for sale, or buyers can use microcredits to "rent" a cart and bicycle very cheeply. (but many business models is possible if you need to earn profit from it or develop into small-scale entrepreneurship-possibility for many unemployed)

Projects like this would not work in my country, because new bicycles imported from China have become extremely cheap to buy.
However I would promote homebuilt transportation like this (bicycles, skateboards, handrolled carts) far more than trying to start to build engine-propelled vehicles, or even flying projects, that seems not appropriate at all to me. But please feel free to enlighten me to why it is necessary to waste so much material and energy to lift people or freight?

I have also recently watched a short documentary from Colombia, where many thousands of children use a very simple cable to cross canyons on their way to and from school, daily. And it was amazing to see how they can be creative to overcome such problems without vehicles or electricity.

--[[User:Yeahvle|Yeahvle]] 09:10, 23 June 2011 (PDT)

==Fabrication==
with the rapid rise of open-source digital fabrication -- it is highly recommended that the AT CAD team use open-source CAD packages like [[OpenSCAD]] and also submit STL files which can be digitally manufactured via open-source 3-D printers or other methods. Simple 3D images may be useful for clarifying some ideas - but it is far more powerful to provide a literal 3-D design in a format that can be used for digital manufacturing.
JMPearce

:: This is best not discussed at this page, I added the info to [[Open_source_engineering_software#Articles_Related_to_Open_Source_Space_Software]]
[[User:KVDP|KVDP]] 06:04, 30 May 2013 (PDT)