problem statement requirements and approach current s.o.t.a. initial designs secondary designs testing final product

 

GM^3 is currently performing engineering consulting for Wired Bliss LLC. Wired Bliss is a manufacturer of rock climbing equiptment, in particular the so called "Climbin Cams" that is perhaps the most popular type of active climbing protection available today. (See contact page for client contact information).

Click on this link to read a review of Wired Bliss cams www.yuccadune.com/product534.html

Now, for those of you reading this who aren't climbers, you are probably wondering, exactly what we mean by "climbing cam." Below are a few images of Spring Loaded Camming Devices (SLCD), or cams, as they are called, from various manufacturers.

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As you can see, they all vary slightly, particularly in trigger and handle design, but they all work on the same basic principle, a logorthmic spiral cam lobe design. This is described in detail on the secondary designs page.

It's no secret that Wired Bliss pioneered the three cam unit. In 1984 Steve Byrne developed the product and introduced two unique designs into the climbing arena. The first was a camming device utilizing only three cams. This allowed for narrower placements and noticeable weight reduction. The second was the flexible body which, along with the smaller number of cams, produced the lightest, most versatile camming device available. Horizontal cracks could now be protected without compromising strength.

Our client, Gene Hacker, has asked us to continue in this pioneering tradition! In the next pages, you can read our problem definition and requirements as well as view all our state of the art research. This is followed by our initial and secondary designs, testing of those designs, and a description of our final product.

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