About Me
My Project
FabAcademy

Sergio Subrizi

About Me

The Assignments
  1. Principles and Practices, Project Management
  2. Computer-Aided Design
  3. Computer-Controlled Cutting
  4. Electronics Production
  5. 3D Scanning and Printing
  6. Electronics Design
  7. Embedded Programming
  8. Computer-Controlled Machining
  9. Molding and Casting
  10. Input Devices
  11. Output Devices
  12. Composites
  13. Networking and Communications
  14. Mechanical Design, Machine Design
  15. Interface and Application Programming
  16. Applications and Implications
  17. Invention, Intellectual Property, and Income
  18. Project Development
  19. Project Presentation

Project Development

I started with some idea one of them was this first-photo: but my friend Marco Tonci inventor and designer had a better solutions, he drew with 2D CAD an innovative full metal structure for my router table, to better understand it I need a 3D sketch so I imported the 2D CAD in Sketchup. The pieces need to be cut by a metal laser cut sevice ... but I am thinking to mill them with my CNC in aluminium instead (or carbon fiber if not too expensive).This is the idea of the height movement: The idea is to have a "sandwitch" of a 4mm metal blade (yellow) sliding inside other 2 4mm metal blades, HDPE or Teflon "skates" will be used. In this picture I colored the part with four colors (third photo), the parts that rotete are in blue, yellow is for parts that move in Z axis and orange for the Fence support (X axis), Turquoise is structure parts that don't move.

Designing in Solidworks it's becaming a pleasure. Here we see some features of the project. The basic idea is to use material frequently available. Some parts would benefits if laser cutted, metal laser cutting service is not difficult to find and generally economic. The idea of the sliding mechanism is to be economic without sacrificing precision. The system consist in two 4mm metal blades and a 3mm cursor wich slide in between, some 4mm teflon (or any other suitable material) tablets are inserted in the cursors to achieve a better sliding. Same for the Fence movement, the carriage slides between the metal blades, vertically is held in position by blocks, and laterraly by the blades with teflon tablets

The Electronics section of the project starts to have a definitive form:

And some controls and tests on the structure made of laser cutted plywood before the final metal laser cutted parts

The structure laser cut test was very helpfull to avoid errors in the Metal cutting phase where any problems will be a waste of money and time. A few errors were made and luckily I found them:
The Metal laser service cutted the parts just in time, the parts are beautifull but the heat of the laser curved a minimum the slats. This is a problem I can correct manually, but I think it's better to laser cut just the essential-immpossible parts and made the slats manually from 30x4 bars which is a very easy task once you make a jig for the cut and the holes. The assembly of the metal structure, the Hdpe and the case needs some refinements is essential to make some design enhancemets to give some mounting tolerance, but this has to be done working with the phisical prototype. The fist tests are a success everything moves and rotete perfecly, althoug some precise shimmering is welcomed. The electronics works well and the first test show precise and smooth movements of the fence. The Mill axis is still to be mounted, I still need to receive the right belts an pulley.


The Solidworks Rotala Files

The development of this project will go on The Rotala Project Blog when it will not be possible to continue on MIT Fab Academy server.
The Last Push So, this is the leave-taking to the Fab Academy ... Six month has passed, all of them was both a nightmare and a joy. A nightmare because it was very hard to catch up with vast and demanding assignment, few month ago I was thinking to give up, it was after computer controlled cutting and molding and casting, when I started input devices,my efforts and study on Eagle and electronics totally vanished and I was scared and depressed. But then I restarted and catched up in a day or two all the things done before and more. Another important step was the decision to forget about the timing schedules to presenting the complete assignment on wednesday, I started the Academy to learn the most and the best, not to have a diploma and to finish the things in time. I'm 52 in a month, it's no time to rush :-). So I started to make things the best possible no matter of time, I was always late for the revision but I was much happier and did a much better work, and in the end, although the things to do are still a lot, I reached the end of the course "almost" in time. Wasn't the subtitle of the Fab Academy: learn how to make "ALMOST everything ? :-)
The Joy: looking back at six month ago I barely recognize myself, it's incredible the things learned in so little time even if it's still just the beginning of a long Journey. Between relief and satisfaction, there is also a little sadness for the end of the Fab Academy. I'd like to thanks my collegues Alessandro, Antonio, Tommaso they all supported me in the difficult moment. Our tutor Lorenzo whom dedication and disponibility was total, Paolo Sanna SPQwoRK electronic/Arduino's guru. Most of the student of the Fab Academy 2015 and of the past years, their work on assignments was a guide. Again many of the Fab Academy students who did wonderfull and inspiring projects. And all the tutor staff that developed tutorials and materials on which we studied. And finally Neil for his creation, dedication, for the lessons he gave us, and the all mail answers he patiently gave to all. Waiting for the Fab Academy level 2 ( How to build EVERYTHING (omitted almost) :-) ) .... Bye Bye ( Ciao ).