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Team BOVINE

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Cattle Bolus Housing Design

bolus design
Exploded view of bolus design
Bolus prototypes
Bolus prototypes

Willowview Consulting is interested in redesigning and streamlining the production of a radio transmitting cattle bolus that sends information from inside a cow’s rumen. A successful design will be durable and watertight for a life cycle of at least 3 – 5 years; be dense enough to resist regurgitation and digestion and be easily mass produced. The device should be rechargeable and also be able to be turned on and off for service and storage.

The BOVINE senior design team has designed and prototyped multiple iterations of an injection moldable housing using solidworks and 3D printing. This design is split into two halves molded from PETG plastic, held together by five screws, and sealed with two EPDM O-rings making it easily serviceable. Key design elements such as compatibility of stomach acids with plastics, proper O-ring sizing and material, and efficient production methods were all taken into consideration.

Team

Greg Andaloro

Ben Knight

Catherine Gale

Sarah Goldrod

Justin Brunner

Advisor

Lynn Catlin, P.E.

Sponsor

Ryan Kahre and Jim Shaver
Willowview Consulting LLC

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