Project 1.1.

6 Compound Machine Design – VEX

Introduction
Mechanical systems often require a combination of
mechanisms to complete a given task. Any time two or
more machines are combined, the result is a compound
machine. If many mechanisms are combined, the machine
may even be referred to as a complex machine. Compound
machines can range in complexity from a crane or
automobile to a simple manual can opener. A bicycle is an
example of a compound machine. The pedals, brakes,
handle bars, and sprocket systems are just some of the
mechanisms on most bicycles. In this activity you will work
in teams to design and build a compound machine.
Equipment
 VEX® PoE kit, including gears (sprockets), chains, belts, axles, and support pieces
 Rope for pulley systems
Design Criteria/Constraints
 The applied effort force may only be provided by a single human input.
 The final design must include a minimum of three mechanisms including any of the simple
machines, a gear system, a belt and pulley system, and/or a sprocket and chain system.
 The compound machine must have a mechanical advantage greater than 1.
Procedure
1. Investigate available equipment components and possible configurations.
2. Brainstorm ideas for accomplishing the assigned task, and record at least three ideas in your
engineering notebook.
3. Using your engineering design notebook, sketch and annotate a preliminary design solution
including the individual mechanism’s mechanical advantage and the drive ratios.
4. Build, test, and modify your compound machine design.
5. Using your engineering design notebook, sketch and annotate your final design solution including
the individual mechanism’s mechanical advantage and the drive ratios.
6. Using your engineering design notebook, document and illustrate the mechanical advantage and
drive ratios of the individual mechanisms utilized within your final compound machine solution.
Show work and units throughout.

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering Project 1.1.6 Compound Machine Design VEX – Page 1
 Mechanism 1 Type
Illustration: Include proper documentation such as force, distance, direction, and key mechanism features.

Mechanical Advantage / Ratio Calculations

Formula Substitute / Solve Final Answer

Mechanism 2 Type
Illustration: Include proper documentation such as force, distance, direction, and key mechanism features.

Mechanical Advantage / Ratio Calculations

Formula Substitute / Solve Final Answer

Mechanism 3 Type
Illustration: Include proper documentation such as force, distance, direction, and key mechanism features.

Mechanical Advantage / Ratio Calculations

Formula Substitute / Solve Final Answer

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering Project 1.1.6 Compound Machine Design VEX – Page 2
 7. Calculate total/overall system mechanical advantage.
Formula Substitute / Solve Final Answer

Conclusion Questions
Please answer the questions in full sentences in your engineering notebook.
1. For which mechanism was it the easiest to determine the mechanical advantage or drive ratio?
Why was it the easiest?

2. For which mechanism was it the most difficult to determine the mechanical advantage or drive
ratio? Why was it the most difficult?

8. What modifications could you make to your compound machine to make it more mechanically
efficient?

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering Project 1.1.6 Compound Machine Design VEX – Page 3
Project 1.1.6 Compound Machine Design Rubric
Design
Topics 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Generates at least three Generates three Generates two Generates one
viable concepts. Selects concepts. Selects an concepts. Selects one concept.
most appropriate appropriate concept concept using
Brainstorming concept and clearly and is somewhat able inadequate criteria.
Ideas justifies the choice using to justify the choice
the appropriate criteria. using marginally
acceptable criteria.
Produces accurate Produces marginally Produces pictorial Produces incomplete
pictorial sketches or sufficient pictorial sketches or electronic pictorial sketch or
Final Design
electronic 3D models sketches or electronic 3D models that are electronic 3D model.
Images
that meet the required 3D models of required difficult to visualize. Does not present
design concepts. design concepts. Sketches lack details. concept.
Is properly detailed for Is marginally detailed Lacks many details for Lacks most details for
Final Design effective communication for effective effective effective
Written including labels, communication communication communication
Communicatio descriptions, signatures, including labels, including missing including missing
n and dates. descriptions, labels, descriptions, labels, descriptions,
signatures, and dates. signatures, and dates. signatures, and dates.
Fully meets design Meets most design Meets some Does not meet any
Design requirements. requirements and requirements but not requirements.
Requirements supports the design enough to support the
function. design function.
Team members worked Demonstrated good Demonstrated good Demonstrated few
well together and settled team working skills the team working skills team working skills.
Teamwork differences in a positive majority of the time. part of the time.
manner.

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering Project 1.1.6 Compound Machine Design VEX – Page 4
 Mechanism 1
Topics 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Mechanism is clearly Mechanism is Mechanism is Mechanism is difficult
identifiable as one that identifiable as one that marginally identifiable to identify as one that
manipulates force or manipulates force or as one that manipulates force or
Design distance. Mechanical distance. Mechanical manipulates force or distance. Mechanical
Requirements advantage and/or ratio is advantage and/or ratio distance. Mechanical advantage and/or ratio
accurately calculated. is calculated but not advantage and/or ratio is not calculated.
very accurately. is calculated but not
very accurately.
Mechanism functions Mechanism functions Mechanism sometimes Mechanism rarely
Quality and consistently and the most of the time, and functions, and the parts functions, and the parts
Functionality chosen parts are the chosen parts are are not chosen are not chosen
appropriate. appropriate. appropriately. appropriately.

Mechanism 2
Topics 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Mechanism is clearly Mechanism is Mechanism is Mechanism is difficult
identifiable as one that identifiable as one that marginally identifiable to identify as one that
manipulates force or manipulates force or as one that manipulates force or
Design distance. Mechanical distance. Mechanical manipulates force or distance. Mechanical
Requirements advantage and/or ratio advantage and/or ratio distance. Mechanical advantage and/or ratio
can be accurately can be calculated but advantage and/or ratio cannot be calculated
calculated. not very accurately. can be calculated but
not very accurately.
Mechanism functions Mechanism functions Mechanism sometimes Mechanism rarely
Quality and consistently and the most of the time, and functions, and the parts functions, and the parts
Functionality chosen parts are the chosen parts are are not chosen are not chosen
appropriate. appropriate. appropriately. appropriately.

Mechanism 3
Topics 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Mechanism is clearly Mechanism is Mechanism is Mechanism is difficult
identifiable as one that identifiable as one that marginally identifiable to identify as one that
manipulates force or manipulates force or as one that manipulates force or
Design distance. Mechanical distance. Mechanical manipulates force or distance. Mechanical
Requirements advantage and/or ratio advantage and/or ratio distance. Mechanical advantage and/or ratio
can be accurately can be calculated but advantage and/or ratio cannot be calculated
calculated. not very accurately. can be calculated but
not very accurately.
Mechanism functions Mechanism functions Mechanism sometimes Mechanism rarely
Quality and consistently and the most of the time, and functions, and the parts functions, and the parts
Functionality chosen parts are the chosen parts are are not chosen are not chosen
appropriate. appropriate. appropriately. appropriately.

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering Project 1.1.6 Compound Machine Design VEX – Page 5
 Compound Machine Assembly
Topics 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
The overall machine lost The overall machine The overall machine The overall machine
Mechanical very little efficiency duelost some efficiency lost most of its barely functioned due
Efficiency to slippage and friction. due to slippage and efficiency due to to slippage and friction.
friction. slippage and friction.
Mechanisms function Mechanisms function Mechanisms function Mechanisms functions
together consistently and together most of the together sometimes but rarely and cannot
Quality and
accomplish the identified time and accomplish do not always accomplish the
Functionality
task. the identified task. accomplish the identified task.
identified task.

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Principles of Engineering Project 1.1.6 Compound Machine Design VEX – Page 6