Steven Engel: Engineering Portfolio
Eagle Scout Project Table of Contents
Introduction
Background
Criteria and Constraints
Project Design
Pre-Assembly
Assembly and Installation
Project Report
Interests Table of Contents
Main Table of Contents
Introduction
2017, Goshen Farm, Cape St. Claire, MD
According to www.scouting.org, the Eagle Scout Project requirement is as follows:
“While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your unit leader and unit committee, and the council or district before you start.”
In order to become an Eagle Scout, one must earn all of the other ranks in Boy Scouts, earn at least 21 merit badges, and hold various troop leadership positions, among other requirements, before they turn 18. However, the most significant requirement is the Eagle Scout Project. Engineering and professional design skills were learned in the completion of this project.
Table of Contents
Background
To complete this requirement, I went to Goshen Farm. I wasn’t sure that I was at the farm because Goshen Farm itself is located up a long, winding driveway from the main road (there was no entrance sign present). Goshen Farm educates people about Maryland rural life from the 1700s to the present and maintains community gardens and hiking trails. They also have tours, occasional live music, and other events.
The photograph to the left shows Goshen Farm's entrance in 2016, with no entrance sign present. Responding to a clear need, I decided to build a large entrance sign for Goshen Farm.
Throughout the project, I worked with Goshen Farm staff to design the sign to their needs. From the beginning, we determined the sign's purpose to be the following:
"Attract visitors, clearly identify Goshen Farm, and express a rustic style."
Criteria and Constraints
Just as with any other engineering project, this project had a set of criteria of constraints that were followed in design.
Criteria:
- Must maintain a rustic look appropriate to the Farm
- Must be well-built and last for several years
- Must be appealing enough to attract people to Goshen
- Must be visible from the main road
Constraints:
- Total Cost can not exceed budget (~$450)
- Must be built on Goshen’s land
- Can not be too large so as to be unpleasant in appearance or violate county building policies
Project Design
The sign's design is shown to the left. Some of the sign's features include:
Two side posts grounded in sakrete, joined by mortise-tenon joints with a crossbeam on top.
Cap-post structures consisting of 3 stacked wooden slabs
Two screw eyes hanging from the bottom of the crossbeam to the top of the sign, where two eyes attach to a carabiner
three horizontal boards on each side of two 2x3 boards, into which the words “HISTORIC GOSHEN FARM & EDUCATION CENTER” are routed
An 18” 2x3 board, from which an open sign can be hung using the respectively attached hooks and eyes
Pre-Assembly
Various steps were necessary in order to maximize efficiency during the assembly and installation stage:
The side posts, crossbeam, support boards, and sign board, as well as open sign, were all measured and cut according to the plan.
The holes for the mortise-tenon joint were created.
The areas where screws were needed were pre-drilled appropriately.
The letters needed were routed and stained into the letter boards.
5. All wood to be used was sanded and stained.
Assembly and Installation
I led several scouts and volunteers to complete the following steps and install the sign:
34” deep, 12” diameter holes were dug while the sign was being assembled.
The mortise-tenon joints were created by placing a peg in the holes. Atop the side posts, the cap-structure was screwed on. Two eyes were attached to the bottom of the crossbeam.
The holes were dug, so 4” of gravel was placed in the holes and the sign frame was lifted and placed into them. A level was used to guide this process.
The sakrete and water were poured into the holes, and the sign was braced with 4 large wooden stakes while the sakrete was hardening.
The letter boards were placed and screwed onto the 2x3s.
Atop the 2x3s, the eyes for the carabiners attached to the sign frame were set in.
In between the bottom letter boards, the 18” 2x3 was placed and set in with screws. In this 2x3, screw eyes were attached to the bottom.
On the open sign, hooks were attached to the top.
The main sign was hung, as well as the open sign.
After the sakrete hardened, the braces were taken off. The site was then cleaned.
Project Report
The project was completed on 18 March, 2017. Scouts and volunteers were working from 8am to noon. Because of the multitasking between building the frame, building the sign, and digging the holes, this was achieved with great efficiency.
Goshen Farm’s Response: https://www.facebook.com/goshenfarm.org
Goshen Farm was impressed by the rustic look of the sign, but also by how well-built it was.
The sign is currently helping to:
Attract people to Goshen Farm
Clearly identify Goshen Farm
Express the rustic style of the Farm
The sign is shown below (the braces would be removed and the open sign would be hung later).
