Geekology
Why does MIT excel at innovation? After spending the last couple of months in the basement of the machine shop in building 48, I think I know the answer. MIT students have access to an incredible array of supplies, tools, machine shops and labs. Most of students take advantage of this as professors, advisors and technical staff look on with a mix of mild bemusement, curiosity and pride. "Let the kids learn from their own mistakes", they seem to be saying.
I experienced what it's like to be a true MIT geek (not just a graduate student in a management program) while helping build the solar energy prototype this summer. One of my tasks this week was to mount a pulley to a motor shaft. First I had to pry the pulley off of a power steering pump using some brute force cutting.
Next, I had to attach the pully to the motor shaft shown below.
An off-the-shelf coupling would do this easily, but in true MIT fashion, the coupling had to be hand built. "Why buy it if you can build it?", seems to be mantra around here. In the real world it could be a recipe for disaster, but this is MIT and a true lesson in geekology required that I build my own coupling from a rod of aluminum 2" wide and 3" long.
I began my journey by acquiring the material from the central machine shop in buiding 36. This is a warehouse stocked with any material you can think of. The central machine shop seems to have a mystical significance around here. Everyone knows where it is, but it's a secret only known to those MIT students who care about this kind of stuff.
Next, I had to machine the part to make two holes of different diameters to fit the two shafts. I don't think I've ever used a lathe before, but after a 30-second introduction course, I was ready to go. Another discovery: MIT students love to share their knowledge and help you get on board with the tools and the labs.
And the final result: a nicely machined piece of aluminum. Total time to do this? About 1 hour (from the time I went to the stock room). I would've probably spent as much time researching and ordering the right coupling on-line.
After drilling and tapping four holes on the side, I attached the shaft and tested the whole assembly. It worked like a dream! The motor and the pulley will be used to turn the parabolas to follow the sun. Pretty exciting!
I experienced what it's like to be a true MIT geek (not just a graduate student in a management program) while helping build the solar energy prototype this summer. One of my tasks this week was to mount a pulley to a motor shaft. First I had to pry the pulley off of a power steering pump using some brute force cutting.
Next, I had to attach the pully to the motor shaft shown below.An off-the-shelf coupling would do this easily, but in true MIT fashion, the coupling had to be hand built. "Why buy it if you can build it?", seems to be mantra around here. In the real world it could be a recipe for disaster, but this is MIT and a true lesson in geekology required that I build my own coupling from a rod of aluminum 2" wide and 3" long.
I began my journey by acquiring the material from the central machine shop in buiding 36. This is a warehouse stocked with any material you can think of. The central machine shop seems to have a mystical significance around here. Everyone knows where it is, but it's a secret only known to those MIT students who care about this kind of stuff.
Next, I had to machine the part to make two holes of different diameters to fit the two shafts. I don't think I've ever used a lathe before, but after a 30-second introduction course, I was ready to go. Another discovery: MIT students love to share their knowledge and help you get on board with the tools and the labs.
And the final result: a nicely machined piece of aluminum. Total time to do this? About 1 hour (from the time I went to the stock room). I would've probably spent as much time researching and ordering the right coupling on-line.
After drilling and tapping four holes on the side, I attached the shaft and tested the whole assembly. It worked like a dream! The motor and the pulley will be used to turn the parabolas to follow the sun. Pretty exciting!
posted by sorinescu at 9:23 AM
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