Week 20. Project Development

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  1. What is the deadline? How much time do I have left?
  2. What tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain?
  3. What has worked? What hasn't?
  4. What questions need to be resolved?
  5. What will happen when?
  6. What have you learned?

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

My presentation is on Friday 14.06.2019. Today is Tuesday and it leaves me 3 days to complete all the tasks. I feel good about it. My final project is completed, very few issues in the documentation left unfinished. Final video is almost ready.

— What tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain?

List of tasks:

I would say that I completed most of my To Do list. App for Android was complimentary task. I have no experience in programming for Android and so far I'm very happy that I can operate the LED strip remotely from Bluetooth terminal

Finishing the base segment with the electronics box I forgot to add a hole for LED strip wires and for the on/off switch. I cut/drilled them manually after. In general, I feel like I overdesigned this segment. Metal mounting plate and replaceable mounting block are nice, but not really needed in this device. So, I would say, that this segment will be the first candidate for the redesign in the future. It works great, but not completely perfect.

Another small issue is that I haven't put pads for soldering wires to my final board design. So the wires are soldered to a thin copper traces. I fixed it with epoxy on top, but this is a weak spot in the device. When it will break, I'll replace the main board with a new one.

— What has worked? What hasn't?

As you can see from the task list, I didn't managed to use bl652 Bluetooth module. The main problem here was my procrastination. I started working on it later, than I planned and I hadn't enough time to sort it out. It bothers me, but HC-06 worked just fine.

Everything else worked fine. I'm very satisfied with the work I've done. All joints are stable,led strip holds in place without glue and it is covered on top with transparent plastic.

— What questions need to be resolved?

What can be impoved? — this is the main question for me now. I already see a couple of things I can work on. I mentioned them above. Now I want to use the device for some time and get some more ideas. Nice thing is that my Ring can be modified without damaging it. Mechanical parts are replaceable, all joints hold together by pressfit and screws, so it can be disassembled with no harm done.

Main things what can be impoved:

— What will happen when?

I am not sure about timetable here. The PCB will be replaced once something will go wrong and I'll need to take the Ring apart. I'll rename Bluetooth module at the same time. Firmware will be developed according for my future needs. I'm planning to make a port for fast updating (so, the switch on Bluetooth module is required).

At some point, I want to post a tutorial either on www.instructables.com/ or pikabu.ru (Russian analog of Reddit). Or even make a videotutorial for YouTube. I'm going to make it over summer vacation, but there's a chance that I'll go hiking somewhere and won't do a thing. So, it depends...

— What have you learned?

— I learned that it is possible to make almost everything.

Oh! I feel like I learned a lot!

First, I went a long way in 3D modeling. From barely printable models designed in Blender to multicomponent parametric design in Fusion 360.

Before FabAcademy After FabAcademy

Second, I discovered a wonder world of microcontrollers. I'm still not the biggest fan of the PCB design and production process, but I've bought myself an Arduino starter kit and I have some ideas for the future projects.

Third, but could be first, HTML. At the very beginning of the course I had no idea about web design. I chose to use Brackets as a web-design tool and never regretted it. I took a template by Massimo Menichinelli, edited it, and used it till the end of FabAcademy. I enjoyed the process of documenting (not on every week, but in general) what I did. I think, I can find a use for this skill in the future.

Next, I learned about different manufacturing processes and techniques. It helps a lot in solving some of my working tasks and in my hobbies.