Sifter Sorter

grabcad

The sampler consists of two main components: firstly, a scoop fitted with a robust servo motor and a small linear actuator, which is mounted on the rover's side panel for easy insulation and wiring, while the actuator is encased in polyurethane foam and can be equipped with heating mechanisms. The entire assembly weighs 85.38 grams. Secondly, the sorting mechanism, which is the core component of the system. As the scoop lifts regolith onto the intake platform, it sorts out rocks larger than 2 cm using a sliding motion generated by a servo piston. This method does not use vibration and thus won't harm electronics. Afterward, regolith with a diameter less than 1 cm falls through, traveling down the funnel to the lower layer of the sampling container. Meanwhile, rocks larger than 1 cm stay above the main sifter platform and travel down the upper funnel into the top level of the sampling container. This assembly weighs 358.21 grams in total. Other features include a total weight of 443.59 grams (excluding bolts for roller carriages), power consumption of approximately 20-25 watts, and a camera setup to capture the sampling process. Pmma plastic "windows" will be coated with Teflon, with thicker coatings on funnels to prevent scratching from sliding regolith. The scoop stops operating once the container is full. There are three renderings included in the design, and materials utilized are aluminum, titanium 6AI-4V, and pmma plastic.