The Strawberry Tree
Introduction
The Strawberry Tree is a team with a diverse set of skills that they've applied to the project. The Strawberry Tree's sponsor, Arbutus Grove Nurseries, custom grows seedlings for reforestation and Christmas tree farms. They want solutions to improve their production lines' speed and number of seedlings produced. On the seeding production line, styro-blocks' vent holes get plugged by peat moss. The client wants a solution to remove the peat from the vent hole with simple technology. The solution would minimize the number of seedlings lost due to gray mold. In our second project, we will enhance their sanitization system by adding conveyors on the end. The client wants a system with a tight 90-degree turn and 50 ft of length alongside the sanitization system. This conveyor system will improve the speed at which the styro-blocks are taken from the end of the sanitization station to tables.
Acknowledgements
Our team would like to thank our sponsor, Arbutus Grove Nurseries. We are grateful to work alongside their team and provide solutions that meet their needs. In addition, we are grateful to our instructors for answering questions and helping with the manufacturing process.
Team Members
Samuel Luinstra
(Project Lead & Finance Lead)Samuel Luinstra is an exciting mechanical engineering technology prospect from Camosun College. He is a well-versed student serving as the accounting and project lead for his team. With him at the helm, the team has made many strides, but what he's pouring his heart and soul into is the design and CAD side of the project. Samuel created a conveyor drawing that would allow anyone to be able to replicate and build it to spec. At the end of the day, Samuel always takes away this when creating: there are no shortcuts to creating something quality.
Caroline Prins
(Documentation Lead)Caroline Prins previously completed a year of engineering at UBC Okanagan and then returned to Victoria to restart her studies. Her interests are in math, SolidWorks, and writing. She is the documentation lead for this project. She contributes to the project by doing research, especially for the conveyor system. She believes in starting work ahead of time and getting along with her teammates. Her spare time is spent building models from wood or sheet metal, reading and crocheting. These hobbies have helped her build testing prototypes for the project.
Isaac Richard
(CAD Lead)Isaac Richard is a Mechanical Engineering Technology student with a passion for designing and modifying computer cases and cooling systems. His technical background and experience in the program have made him proficient in CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion360, Blender), CNC manufacturing, control systems (Arduino, PLC), as well as providing a strong knowledge base in electronic systems. Isaac has applied these skills as the CAD lead of the project, responsible for verifying and troubleshooting all 3D models and engineering drawings, as well as managing the team's Product Data Management (PDM) system. He has thoroughly enjoyed the technical challenges that come with incorporating designed parts and products into existing systems.
Tussak Christie
(Manufacturing Lead)Tussak Christie is a mechanical engineering technology student raised in Victoria, with strong foundations in mechanical design, manufacturing processes, and control programming. Coursework and hands-on projects have helped him develop strong skills in computer aided design, prototyping, and fabrication. Tussak is the Manufacturing Lead for this project, responsible for overseeing and verifying fabrication and production processes, ensuring components are built to spec, on time, and within the given budget. He looks forward to continuing his education and taking on new challenges in the engineering field.