Click here for my final project report on the Air Hockey Table

My Big Project Idea

An automatic bath

After debating a couple of different ideas that I believe were not completely well thought out in my head (I didn't want to doubt my own project), I decided on an automatic bath

In principle the bath would be fully automated allowing the user to;

  1. Using a control panel or from an internet device, instruct the bath to run
  2. The bath would also have the option of working in a manual 'normal' method
  3. The bath would run to a desired certain level and temperature
  4. Turn off the bath and inform user when it is ready
  5. Above all, the bath would have safety features that take into account the interaction between water and electronics

After speaking with my Tutor at Fab Lab Manchester and David/Tony at Fab Lab Ellesmere Port, I have developed the idea further which can be seen in this diagram below.

A change in final project Idea

I have been questioning my final project idea over the last few weeks, as it involves certain 'external' influences that would be hard to control such as;

  1. Piping the water supply to my project which would involve expensive solenoid valves and pipe connections
  2. The size of the project would make it difficult to create at Fab Lab

A new project....

Air Hockey Table

I would like to create a table size air hockey table. I have thought of the following considerations for my project so far

  1. A lasercut 5mm acrylic bed for the playing surface, this makes it easy to create a bed of air holes easily.
  2. A Shopbot box for the surroundings which would have two outer layers - internal would hold playing surface and electronics, extrerior would support the inside layer and allow a gap for the electronics
  3. Electronics - A goal scoring system that knows when a goal is scored, LED strips along the edges of the playing surface to light it up , a LCD scoring system and a control for the fan system (see below)
  4. A fan system underneath the playing surface to make the puck glide easily. So far the options are PC fans or a car radiator fan (my favourite idea at the moment)
  5. 3D Printed puck and mallets for playing.
  6. Vinyl cut graphics on the side of the project but also painted to look cool

Please bear with me whilst I get more information about this on the website