A 5-man team of senior mechanical engineering students at the University of Missouri contacted us for their required capstone design project. They were to build a functioning model of a coal log pipeline design which was patented by two Mizzou professors back in the early 90’s. It received a lot of funding and a 300-ft research pipeline was on campus for several years before the professors passed away and the project was discontinued.
The design conveyed coal logs (which were compacted into cylinders), however, the conveyance system was causing abrasion to the logs. The students set out to convey the logs within canisters and propel them via air. Their mission was to create a model of such a pneumatic system. They sent us a drawing and we were more than happy to offer suggestions.
We made the bends and instructed the student engineers how to make, contour, and solvent weld the branches into the tubing racetrack.
We provided them with templates.
And they did the rest.
And they did a commendable job.
