Nuclear Core Works Like Sketch Model

To reiterate the idea behind the works like model, the image to the right shows push rods that will automatically reset the game upon completion / installation of the control rods. The works like model is a representation of this self reset, although it is a manual process currently.

The sketch model isn't pretty, with gaps, glue, and some strange blue-foam shims filling gaps, however it works! There's the core base that has four different carved out holes for the control rods to be placed by the crane. These four push rods (one in each hole) are connected with a double layer of cardboard base that has a longer wooden dowel rod in the center coming up through the core. Pulling the dowel up will bring the push all four push rods up at once and above the top of the core.

The video below is a simulation of how the self-reset of the core is going to work. The actual product will have a "real" self-reset feature of some sort of hydraulic press on a timer rather than the manual pull reset. There are definitely some lessons we learned from this works-like model. Often, the rods would get pushed out of the holes and rest on top of the core rather than falling to the floor. This doesn't necessarily hinder the self-reset option.