Fab Academy 2018 by JEAN-BAPTISTE NATALI jbnatali@gmail.com

daily updates
week 21 - project development

Attending the Fab Academy in Barcelona, I document each week of intense learning as I come across new digital fabrication techniques.
This documentation is as much a report of what I do as a reflection on why I do so, and will hopefully guide me back to Oceania to spread and make good use of the knowledge gathered along the path.

10.06.18 /I currently develop my final project. I plan on finishing its fabrication by Wednesday morning - the day after tomorrow.

Now, I can have a go at answering the following question : What is the deadline? How much time do I have left? What tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain? How will I complete the remaining tasks in time? What has worked? What has not? What questions still need to be resolved? What have I learned?

So :

What is the deadline? How much time do I have left?

The deadline is on presentation day, on the 15th of June. I have 4 days left.

What tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain?

I must :

• - fabricate the base (designed ready for laser cutting) and correct it if required;
• - Do the wiring for the I2C network : between USB connectors and the PCBs;
• - fabricate embeeded stands for the PCBs (laser cut pieces of cardboard);
• - fabricate the second learning kit. Possible fabricate a third, empty learning kit;
• - fabricate the connectors for second learning kit and the base (roughly 5 hours of 3d printing);
• - make a slide and a video;
• - final project page including a Bill Of Materials, Links to weeks when I worked on my final project, Links to videos and slides, design files, license chosen and acknowledgments for other people working on this project.

How will I complete the remaining tasks in time?

I will :

• -Today : Add a Bill of materials to the summary section of my final project and license chosen. Prepare the slide, awaiting for the final picture on Wednesday;


• - Monday : Fabricate the second learning kit. Possibly fabricate a third, empty learning kit. Fabricate the connectors for second learning kit and the base (roughly 6 hours of 3d printing).
  The laser cutter and 3D printer are booked for this purpose. I will go source extra cardboard at a super store at 9am then start the first 3D print at 10 am (small 3D printer that I am able to fix myself booked for the whole day). Then head to the laser cutter (booked from 10am to 12pm). I then start the second 3D print and correct my (cardboard) design of the base if required. I will then laser cut the second, possibly third learning kit, then re-laser cut pieces from 5pm to 7pm (booked) on that evening;


• - Tuesday : Do the wiring for the I2C network : between USB connectors and the PCBs. Fabricate embeeded stands for the PCBs (laser cut pieces of cardboard - laser cutter booked from 1pm to 2pm). Add to the final project summary the links to weeks when I worked on my final project, design files and acknowledgments for other people working on this project.


• - Wednesday : Make a slide and a video and link them to the summary of my final page.


• - Thursday : Extra day to wrap things up. and answer the final questions : What has worked? What has not? What questions still need to be resolved? What have I learned?

Since I only have 4 days left, my time management technique is quite straightforward : I can easily remember all daily tasks for the next for days off the top of my head. And put simply, I won't call a day a day until I finish each planned steps. More complex time management techniques that I have used in the past (iterative system, agile development or successive deadlines) would probably be overkill within this timeframe.

18.06.18 /I answer the final questions :

What has worked? What has not? What questions still need to be resolved? What have I learned?

What has worked?

The design is modular both in terms of shape and connectivity, the iris mechanism is embeeded within the casing, the actuation is smooth. the RFID detection works well.

What has not (worked)? What still need to be resolved?

Everything works to a functionnal extent, therefore I could leave this section blank. However there are still many aspect of the design that would benefit from further improvements. The list is long and detailed, and can be found at the very bottom of the final project page.

What have I learned?

This answer could go on and on for a while, so to keep it succint, I will stick to the the most obvious observations :

• - team work is key. What I have done in two weeks would have likely to be done in one by three people working together. I really look forward to team up to tackle bigger project in less time;


• - the "integrated" part of "integrated design" is a step in itself - both at planning and finalisation stage. embeeding mechanical and electronics correctly must be thought of thoroughly at design stage. Next time I model the wiring in my Fusion design to force myself to make a more dedicated space to it;


• - documentation is another full step, as important as the creation of the object itself. Slides, Video, Summary of the project and replication steps took some time that I am happy to have scheduled it prior to the final push.

I put all information on the same page to recollect these more easily and be able to carry on in the future.

Now is time to summarize my final project and communicate the essence of it. This will be done on the final project page, where my (potential) readers will look for it. I wrote a summary containing the following information :

• - concept;
• - operation;
• - level of development;
• - timeframe for development;
• - digital fabrication technique used;
• - about the electronics and programmation;
• - assembly;
• - cost;
• - acknowledgment;
• - license;
• - future development;
• - project replication.

Please use the link right below to go straight to it.