During week five of lab, our group began building our prototype. We started with the essential components to our design: two storage vessels, glass tubing, and a vertical wooden base. Our first step was to scale our components, and gaining access to resources within the lab posed as a problem. Ethan began filing the glass tubing to alter the height of the overall design. Ben and Anna measured the size of holes needed to be drilled within the cork and bottle cap, which would allow tube access while maintaining the pressure (and eventual vacuum). Alex and Angie worked on fitting the tubes and overall design together. Overall, we decided that we still needed a plastic funnel and metal clamps to easily attach/ remove the bottles to the wooden base. Saeed suggested that we changed our vessels for safety precautions. We were lent two Erlenmeyer flasks, and we now are considering a horizontal display, which would involve a change in tubing.
Pictured:
Angie and Alex display the initial vertical design. (above)
Ethan files the glass tubing under Saeed's careful supervision. (on the right)
Angie and Alex work on the spacing in the design. (on the left)