Electrical transmission wire tower

The "Oil Derrick" at Six Flags over Texas

The "Titan" at Six Flags over Texas

Structure Tester Base

Structure Tester Base with Structure, Crusher Board and Weights

Note the plastic safety shields on the sides of the corner safety posts

Forces - Compression - Crushing

Compression forces try to crush your structure

Forces - Compression - Buckling

Compression forces try to buckle the members of your structure

Forces - Tension

Tension forces try to pull things apart

Forces - Shear

Shear forces try to break things

Drafting / Drawing Equipment

Various tools you may want to have for drawing / designing your structure

Another Picture of Drawing Tools

Triangles, Rulers, Compass, T-Square

Squaring Graph paper to the Sides of a piece of glass

Using a T-Square to square up graph paper with the sides of my glass "drawing table"

Trisecting an 8" line - Step 1

Graph paper with sketch of an 8" column that we want to divide into three equal sections

Trisecting an 8" line - Step 2

Lining up a ruler with the 0 inch mark at the base of the column and the 9 inch mark lined up with a line drawn from the top of the column

Trisecting an 8" line - Step 3

Having drawn a line along the path of the wooden ruler shown in step 2 and marking the 3" and 6" lines we use a T-square to extend from the 3" and 6" mark on the slanted line over to the 8" column we wish to trisect

Carpenters and Framing Square

Carpenters Square and Framing Square

Marking Balsa Wood

Using Carpenters and Framing Square to mark lines on balsa wood

Cutting & Shaping Tools

Picture of various cutting and shaping tools including "The Chopper" at the top of the photo. Gray self healing mat and wooden cutting board.

Single Edge Razors and Bulk Razors

Razor Saw and Miter Box

Xacto Knives

Pitsco Timber Cutter

1/10 gram electronic scale

1/100 gram electronic scale

Variety of Glues

CA Glue - applying pressure

Using hand to apply pressure for recomended time after putting small dot of glue at each joint

Wood Glue - Step 1

Small "dab" of wood glue on wax paper with toothpick to pickup and apply the glue

Wood Glue - Step 2

Using toothpick to apply small dot of wood glue to one side of a joint

Wood Glue Step 3

After joint is put into place with glue - place a flat piece of wood over the joint and use a small weight or book to hold pressure on the joint for the time recommended by the manufacturer

Wood Glue Step 4

Alternate to using a weight to hold pressure on the joint. This setup is on cardboard over a piece of heavy foam (or insulation board). Hatpins are used to hold pressure on the joints

Too much Gorilla Glue

Gorilla glue expands (foams) as it sets. Apply too much glue and this is what you get

Using Straight Pins to create an assembly "jig"

2D Jig on Glass

A 2D Jig created by using CA glue to glue aluminum tubing and key stock to a piece of glass.

2d jig with glass and tape

The drawing is taped under the glass and the structure is assembled on top of the glass

2D Jig from magnets

Using magnets on a piece of sheet metal to create a 2D jig

Jig Materials

Sample of materials that can be used to construct jigs

DIsigning Bridges JIG

Created a jig to make bridge members from scraps of wood screwed to mdf board

DIsigning Bridges Jig 2

An alternate jig using a piece of aluminum angle screwed to a piece of plastic laminate shelf and using a triangle clamped to the shelf to create the 45 degree angle I wanted to glue a piece together. Weights are apply pressure to hold joints together while the glue sets

Documenting Structure Results

Every structure tested is placed into a plastic baggie with a label, the weight of the structure and the weight held

The secret of structure

The secret is testing lots of structures

Olympic Weights

Olympic Weights close up of 45#

Note the different edge details on these two 45# weights

Team Managers hands incorrectly holding weight

Team Managers hands in good Position

Balsa Goddess pin from 2002

Chevelle Balsa Goddess Pin from 2004

The Balsa Goddess heads for Knoxville

Swan Pins from 2005

We had a swan in our performance and came up with this pair of swans as a team pin.

Origami Swan - Side Trip for DIsigning Bridges Challenge

Check out my ride!

A 2002 Honda Shadow 650

Cardboard Furniture

Nesting Dolls

Frank Gehry Wiggle Chair

Photo of 1st Place at GF Award Ceremony (two team members went home for Graduation)

All Wood DaVinci Helicopter - Wood Creation for GuessDImate challenge

Wood Inlay reproduction of DaVinci's "Portrait of a Musician" - Side Trip for GuessDImate challenge.

Wooden Globe modeled after a Soccer ball - Side Trip for GuessDImate Chalenge

Working All Wood Padlock - Side Trip for GuessDImate challenge.

Ridglea Elementary GF Structure (after GF)

Ridgle Elementary Working on Structure

Ridglea Elementary Regional Structure (after regional)

Ridglea Elemenatary State Structure (after state)

Ridglea Elemenatary Gluing Bands onto card columns

Card Structure Photo from CA Affiliate Tournament

Structure Photo from CA Affiliate tournament

Card structure photo from CA Affiliate Tournament

Note 4 separate columns

Card Structure Photo from CA Affiliate Tournament

Using No Glue

Structure Photo from CA Affiliate Tournament