The Analysis and Development of a Mechanical Breadboard Structure

This thesis introduces the mechanical breadboard as a learning development tool and details the creation of one concept. It begins with a review of the state of the art for mechanical breadboards to include commercial and academic developments and products. It defines what a mechanical breadboard is for this research, what the customer needs are, and what critical functions the breadboard should be able to prototype. Following this analysis, a development team created a new novel structural system for a mechanical breadboard as the research indicated these components were both important to the overall system and had a great opportunity for innovation and improvement. The solution developed is based on node and frame member structural system that allows multiple degrees of freedom in the structural layout. The node is the key component of the structural system and utilizes a three section design to give multiple degrees of freedom and attachment points.