Week19
Project Presentation
Assignment
Document a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, answering:
What does it do?
“Hoy toca neurociencia” is an interactive exhibition project for the visually inpaired and blind persons. Although it is developed with the disability in mind, it is inclusive and accessible to everyone. This project educates on the functions and focuses on providing information of the interior of the human body. My project will finalize the development made so far and focuses on one element of this exposition, the brain. The idea for this unit was to develop a representation of the brain (real size) that vibrates at the different areas being described by an audio track. The user is then able to distinguish the location of these parts by touching the model and learn about the humain brain.
Who's done what beforehand?
- I found Harry´s documentation, who did something very similar here. - Another interesting work done by the department of anatomy in the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, where a low-Cost tactile neuroanatomy learning tools for students with visual-impairment was developed. More about it here.
What did you design?
All parts and systems except for the brain model, that I modified and found in the NIH 3d exchange collection modified and reproduced, the DFR0299 mini MP3 player and arduino nano to control it. See more in the project development page
What materials and components were used? Where did they come from? How much did they cost?
Black PETG 0.5kg - Eolas Prints - €29.95/1kg
White PETG 20g to 30g - Eolas Prints - €29.95/1kg
Alginate about 300g to 500g - Alga cast - €24.20/1kg
Platinum Silicon 900g - Plasticil Gel - €33.88/900g
Machinable wax - Freeman wax - €13.36/1lb
ResinPro 10g - ResinPro - €31.45/1.6kg
x5 Coin Vibration Motors - DC motors - €2.63/10units
x5 RGB LEDs - Elegoo - €9.34/Assorted led 350 pck
x5 220ohms Res(through hole) - Elegoo - €10.99/Assorted res 525 pck
x2 1K Res(SMD ) - Digikey - €0.08/unit
x2 1M Res(SMD) - Digikey - €0.08/unit
x3 CONN HEADER SMD 4POS 2.54MM - Digikey - €0.67/unit
x2 CONN HEADER SMD 6POSx1 - Amazon.es - €8.99/40 pck
x2 CONN HEADER SMD 3POSx1 - Amazon.es - €8.99/40 pck
x3 CONN HEADER SMD 2POSx1 - Amazon.es - €8.99/40 pck
x3 CAP 1Uf(SMD) - Digikey - €0.23/unit
x1 CAP 10Uf(SMD) - RS online - €0.24/unit
x1 IC REG LDO 5V 1A - Digikey - €0.46/unit
x2 Allegro A4953 IC BRIDGE DRIVER - Digikey - €1.56/unit
x1 ATTINY412 - Digikey - €0.42/unit
x1 ATTINY1614 - Digikey - €0.65/unit
Jumper cables - Elegoo - €6.99/120 pck
x1 Mini MP3 player - DFRobot - €5.90/unit
x1 64 GB microSDXC - Lexar TF Card - €16.99/unit
x1 Arduino nano - Elegoo - €11.56/3 pck
What parts and systems were made?
All parts and systems designed except for the 3D brain model, that was found in the NIH 3d exchange collection modified and reproduced, the DFR0299 mini MP3 player and arduino nano to control it. See more in the project development page
What processes were used?
To produce this project, I used 2d and 3d design, Additive (FDM, rapid molding and casting), subtractive (milling, laser cutting), joining (soldering SMD) processes, as well as a lot of good will, head scratching and some hair loss.
What questions were answered?
Since the last prototipe, I have had the chance to discover and determine what material can be used and how to use them. I started learning about coding, DC motor control and networking.
What worked? What didn't?
The first plan for the network and the front panel, I think as I keep learning, i will understand more about uart networks and the next version should be more stable. Also, as it came out of the machine, I was not really happy with the result of the front panel, but I found alternatives for both of these issues. I also find the calibration for the step response and capacitive sensor process very fustrating as I need to plug and unplug the network everytime I want to change something on the code, or just read the sensors. This should be improved in the next spiral when designing a board that can control all motor and LEDs casted in the silicon. The casting went surprisingly well and I really enjoyed the experience of mixing so many processes into one project.
How was it evaluated?
For my part, comparing the tasks I started with for the development of the project I feel that I was able to design and produce what I had planned to do as well as discover within the time frame given in the program. Considering that time frame, I am fairly happy with the results. I now have a much better idea on what it takes to develop such a device and how to combine various fabrication processes to make something actually usable.
What are the implications?
The next step for this project will be to be tested by a visually impaired person. From their feedback, figure out where and how the experience could eventually be improved. Confirm that it is actually useful as an educational device and provides a unique experience to the user. I would also like to implement the electronics, first to make it easier to program than to make use of the x5 motors and LEDs implanted in the silicon. It could be also possible to cast the sensor into the brain so that each area is triggered when touched (This may actually make the usability a little more difficult for some users). Further on, to complete the function of the brain and how it is composed, the development of another 2 modules. One for the under part of the brain (cerebellum) that I was not able to incorporate in this project. As well as the spinal cord, both I feel should be displayed as separated units.
Separate Final Project page. Also see full details of the process in the "project development page".
The stl files, BASE,NECK,NECKFOOT, FRONT PANEL FRAME, GUIDELINE and the MP3 MOUNT.
NOTE: The files used to make the mold turned out to be huge (together left and right hemispheres, with the neck, 43MB). The fusion file contains a converted low poly version that allowed me to design the rest of the pieces around it.!USE WITH CAUTION! The brain model downloaded from the NIH 3d exchange page, if your computer is a old or not the most beefed up, the file size really makes it hard to manupulate, I started on an I3 machine and it was really just about able to open it, on an I7 on the other hand was much better. Here is the file from an external repo as the size is way over the 10mb limit allowed here.
The Slide
And the video...
Assignment
Prepare a summary slide and a one minute video showing its conception, construction, and operation. Your project should incorporate 2D and 3D design, additive and subtractive fabrication processes, electronics design and production, embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming, system integration and packaging.Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project. Projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of the skills, and be independently operable. Present your final project, weekly and group assignments, and documentation.
Learning outcomes
Create your own integrated designDemonstrate 2D & 3D modelling capabilities applied to your own designsSelect and apply appropriate additive and subtractive techniquesDemonstrate competence in design, fabrication and programming of your own fabbed microcontroller PCB, including an input & output device
Have you answered these questions?
Made your slide> 1920 x 1080 pixels with your name, project name, Fab Lab name, a photo/render/sketch of your project, a brief description of what your project is/doesMade a ~1 minute (10MB/1080p) video of you explaining your projectMade a separate Final Project page that briefly summarises your projectIncluded the BOM (Bill of Materials) for your projectLinked from this page to any weeks that you worked on your final projectLinked to your presentation.png and presentation.mp4Included all of your original design files in the archive (2D & 3D, board files & code). No external hosting of final project files - discuss file sizes with your instructorIncluded the license you choseAcknowledged work done by others