15. Mechanical design¶
This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process.
Research - Group Work -¶
- design a machine that includes mechanism+actuation+automation
- build the mechanical parts and operate it manually
- document the group project and your individual contribution
- actuate and automate your machine
- document the group project and your individual contribution
This Mini drawing machine will draw geometric figures or letters.
| Electronics | Mechanical materials |
|---|---|
| Arduino UNO | Stainless steel rods |
| 03 Drivers DRV 8825 | T8 Load screw and nut |
| 12v Power Supply | T8 Nut support |
| Servo motor | Lineal bearings |
| Grbl CNC Shield | SK8 |
| 100mm Stepper motor | Stepper motor |
| Flexible coupling | |
| Washer | |
| Bolts | |
| Lock nuts |
DESIGN OF THE CNC This project was done in group and with the assistance of my Instructor, Wilhelm Schütze.
MATERIALS MILLED IN HDPE AND BOUGTH in a hardware store.
The Model unfix.
Then we start the cutting process using the Shopbot and HDPE Plastic board. This process was done at UCAL.
CNC machine cutting by a shopbot from Manuel Corrales Arana on Vimeo.
CNC machine cutting by a shopbot-2 from Manuel Corrales Arana on Vimeo.
CNC machine countersunk process from Manuel Corrales Arana on Vimeo.
Here starting the assembling of the CNC Machine
My partner worked on the design of it due to his ability to work on the CAD Software.
The puzzle of the CNC Machine ready to be assembled.
After cutting it in the shopbot we start assembling and we notice some problems to deal with like the order to assemble the different parts.
Sometimes we have to disassemble the machine to put it back together properly.
As we continue to fix the machine, i found the importance of fix in a specific direction otherwise we used to unfix several times due to some order we need to locate each component of the machine.
Testing movement CNC Machine-1 from Manuel Corrales Arana on Vimeo.
Testing movement CNC Machine-1 from Manuel Corrales Arana on Vimeo.
Then we need to use an acrylic device to increase the surface in order to screw with the nut. I designed and cut the acrylic pieces.
Finally here the Mechanical structure complete. It took aproxomately 3 days to assemble it.
360 degrees view of the CNC Machine almost finished from Manuel Corrales Arana on Vimeo.
DESIGN OF THE PENCIL HOLDER¶
I design the arm 1 that hold the pen. but i need to change the base of the holder in order to attache to the platform of the CNC.
New design using Rhino
Printing the pencil holder in a Makerbot Replicator 2
We tried different models of pencil holders to fit with the CNC Machine.
Different models of pencil holders from Manuel Corrales Arana on Vimeo.
Finally the model we chose for the CNC Machine.
Then we need to program the CNC Drawing machine using the Universal GCODE Sender Java software
I have to connect the CNC Machine to a port in my Macbook, then setup the zero
BAUD RATE: 115200
I used the FABLAB Logo of UCAL to make the drawing
Here the image of the first drawing with the logo of FABLAB UCAL.
Finally how it works.
CNC Drawing machine - FABLAB LOGO from Manuel Corrales Arana on Vimeo.
Some issuees found when working on mechanical design were that some of the screws were two large so we need to cut using a grinder machine to reduce the lenght of the screws and some rods. Other way is to buy the sized screws and rods.
Problems solved
Some issues solved as a group was the design of the pen/pencil holder. Each one decide to design a different one but then we fin some issues considering the diameter of the pencil and how to hold it, if we use a screw or something like a clip. Finally we decided to use a screw.
This machine can be use by any one who wants to start learning how it works, the pieces inside it and the different items than can be attached to it like a dremel, cutter, etc.
This was an awesome work for me because this was the first time i built a machine and let it work. It gives me a lot of opportunities to figure out how to plan a future machine for my school and let my students work on that.
This assignment was completely great for me due to the posibility to design a machine and see it working. I hope to do it one completely alone and teach my students as a project, how to build one.
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