Last week, groups of students focussed on keeping different areas of the shop neat and tidy. It is a good way to prepare for a good work ethic in the world of work. By keeping tools cleaned and in the right places, and keeping the shop layout organised, safe and efficient work can be maintained throughout the year.
In terms of custom work on the Eclipse, we spent two weeks designing brackets to fit specific components into the car. While keeping the design of parts in mind, we had to remember to make the one-off parts pleasing to the eye, functional and safe.
Continuing our focus at the front of the Eclipse, we dropped our first prototype tablet holder because its frame warped under the strain of the fibreglass resin when it dried,
Mr. Da Silva explained that the bracket needed stronger side brackets to keep the tablet holder's shape in the dashboard.
So with a different approach, we cut the passenger side airbag trim to accommodate the tablet in from behind, and affixed a new wood frame and thicker side brackets with screws to hold it all securely in place.
We then pulled stretchable fabric over the entire thing, applied fibreglass resin to it, then trimmed away the excess and sanded it down to create a solid structure, ready for paint.
While the structure's primer and black paint coats dried, we focussed on the rear of the vehicle where we had to assemble a complex custom bracket to hold the Eclipse's two massive glass mat batteries. These batteries' sole purpose is to power the audio video system with reserve current to spare!
Once we laid out the rear trunk space and took many measurements, we constructed a lower anchor base which would bear the 100 pound plus weight of the batteries.
Once the base was done, we designed an upper bracket to keep the batteries snug so as not to shift around while driving. We have to keep the battery pack as low as possible in the trunk to allow space for the audio system above.
Soon, with the platform floor in place, the batteries fit snugly in their new home. The power source for the audio system is now in place!
The floor had to be raised to match the height of the rear strut tower braces and bridge so that designing the audio system might be easier. While the floor was constructed, Mr. Mule's tech design students continued their renditions of the sound system designs. Soon, both Mr. Mule's class and Mr. Da Silva's class will sit together and discuss each design and consider a final design for the car.
Days later, the tablet holder assembly is dry, and Car Club students help sand and prepare an extra coat of paint for the holder. Soon, it will take its new home in the front passenger dashboard of the Spirit Car.
The tablet will serve multiple purposes. It will teach students how do get diagnostic information from the Eclipse by connecting directly to its engine computer via Bluetooth. We can get real time data on its engine and watch it on the screen from the passenger seat.
The tablet will also serve as a media platform to send music and videos to the rear screen at special events.
Finally, we test fit the tablet in its new holder and mount it temporarily to the passenger dashboard. Looks good so far. We will then build anchor brackets to hold it firmly in place and connect power, the HDMI output, and a USB wire to it once fully installed.
The BR Spirit Car is motoring along, sometimes with its engine running, and at other times, just by sitting there. As more students become familiar with our Student Success initiative, more interest is generated in this cool project, and we all look forward to its unveiling at this year's school carnival in the spring.
Check back soon for our next Project Eclipse update! See you soon!
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