Emily Jue

Aengielle Rodriguez

Test Procedure
Incremental Testing Summary:
Originally, oogoo was used but it took too long to cure and was a lot messier than the material
being used now. We tried to make 3 o-rings using this material and they were all unsuccessful
because the mold would never cure completely.
Oogoo is a mixture of one part silicone 2 caulk and one part cornstarch.
Protoputty is our current molding material and so far we have made 4 successful o-rings using
this material- it dries faster and is more durable than the oogoo.
Protoputty is a mixture of silicone 1 caulk, water and cornstarch. It has a playdough consistency.
Testing Date: January 18, 2017-February 27, 2017
Testing Location: Clear Springs High School
Purpose: We are trying to make a successful o-ring for the astronauts on the International
Space Station. The o-ring must be flexible and pliable and has to come out of the mold that we
created. Different materials must be looked at to figure out which will make a successful o-ring.
The objective data is if the o-ring has cured in the mold and will easily come out and form the o-
ring shape. The design goal is to have a successfully created o-ring.
Initial Conditions: The mold created on the autocad software has been printed and all the
materials have been purchased.
Materials: Computer, 3D Autocad software, 3D printer, ABS plastic, camera, pen, engineering
notebook, silicone caulk 1, caulking gun, corn starch, scale, plastic cups, popsicle sticks, water,
plate, xacto knife, clamps
Pass or Fail Criteria: The o-ring needs to be cured within 2 days and must successfully come
out of the 3D mold without any residue remaining in the mold. The o-ring should come out very
easily and it should be flexible and pliable. The o-ring must be able to stretch at least 1 cm and
bend. We will know if the test worked if the o-ring is successfully made.
Procedures: List the step-by-step process describing what needs to be done in order to run this
test. Be very specific so that anyone could perform this test without additional instruction.
1. Obtain all materials:
27 grams of silicone 1 caulk
caulking gun
6 grams of corn starch
scale
2 plastic cups,
1 popsicle stick
water
1 plastic plate
xacto knife
2 clamps
2. Place the silicone 1 caulk in the caulking gun.
3. Place an empty plastic cup on the scale and tare the scale.
4. Squeeze out 27 grams of silicone 1 caulk into the plastic cup on the scale.
5. Fill the other empty plastic cup with water.
 Emily Jue
Aengielle Rodriguez

6. Add 2 grams of water to the 27 grams of silicone (scale should read 29 g).
7. Using a popsicle stick, mix the water and silicone together until it turns from clear to white.
8. Place about 10 grams of cornstarch on a plastic plate and spread it out.
9. Scoop out the silicone and water mixture onto the cornstarch.
10. Cover the silicone with cornstarch.
11. Incorporate the cornstarch and silicone together, using kneading motions.
12. Knead the mixture until it is a play doh consistency.
13. Quickly place the protoputty into the molds and close the molds, using clamps, as tight as
possible to push excess material out.
14. Allow the mold to cure for at least 45 minutes with the clamps on.
15. After 45 minutes, remove the clamps.
16. Slowly open the mold.
17. Using an xacto knife, cut around the inside and outside of the o-ring to remove the excess
material.

Safety Considerations: The silicone caulk 1 should be used in a well ventilated area, there is a
strong smell of ammonia. The only possible safety concern would be silicone caulk 1 that can
be stuck on hands. This can be avoided by wearing gloves or washing hands after the test is
completed. Do not eat the silicone caulk or protoputty. The xacto knife needs to be handled with
caution and keeping the sharp edge away from the individual.
Data:

Criteria/Benchmark Description of data Quantit Degr

needed ative or ee of
qualitat accu
ive racy

The material of the Temperature at which the Quantit +/-

o-ring must be able o-ring material burns or ative 5F
to withstand a melts
temperature of 350
degrees F without
burning or melting

The furthest the o- We will stretch the o-ring +/- 1

ring can stretch out and see how far it can Quantit cm
before it breaks stretch before it no longer ative
keeps the o shape or
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Aengielle Rodriguez

breaks.

How much We will put the o-ring +/-

pressure the o-ring under different levels of Quantit 10
can withstand pressure to see when its ative psi
breaking point is

The ratio of water to We will put different ratios Quantit +/- 1

silicone caulk and of water into the silicone ative mg
how it affects the caulk and see how
elasticity and moldable the protoputty is.
texture of the o-ring.

Cure time We will let the o-ring cure Qualita +/-

for a different number of tive one
hours and see how long it hour
takes to cure. s

Data Collection Graph or Sheet: See attached document

Expert Feedback: Ms. Westover likes the prototype o-ring that we created. She at first
suggested trying injection molding but also mentioned that our current molding process would
work. She suggested that we add holes into the 3d mold design to remove the necessity of
screws. She also told us that we needed to figure out how to create and not cure protoputty to
be sent to the ISS so the astronauts could just take whatever they need whenever they need it.
Instructor Comments and Signature: Seek input from your instructor. This is where your
teacher will respond to your testing procedure. It may contain information that you will need to
input into the final testing procedure before performing the actual test.

Conclusion
1. What is the purpose of testing your prototype?

The purpose of testing is to test the limits of our prototype and how much stress it can be put
under until breaking. Testing gives qualitative and quantitative measurements of how much
pressure, heat, etc the prototype can endure

2. What is the significance of test criteria?

Emily Jue
Aengielle Rodriguez

Test criteria provide standards that can be used to compare to the test results; to see how the
quality of each trial compares to each other.

3. Is your test reliable? That is, can others repeat your test with the same results? Justify
your answer.

Our test is reliable. The instructions are clear and people should be able to make their own
protoputty to put into a mold and create the desired shape. As long as the measurements that
we have given are followed, the o-ring should be created successfully.

4. Why is it important to eliminate bias in your test results?

It is important to eliminate bias in test results because that could cause problems and make
tests inaccurate. By adding bias, you do not always get accurate results and that could cause
problems to the test results.

5. Why does the test procedure need to be repeatable?

The test procedure needs to be repeatable so that results can be taken more than once for
accuracy. Mistakes can be made in individual trials so repeat tests need to be run so that results
can be accurate.

6. How do you know when you have enough step-by-step detail in your test procedure?

Someone who knows nothing about the project should be able to successfully make the product
just by following the step-by-step procedure.