Fab Academy 2015

Fab Academy

How to Make Almost Anything...

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Applications and Implications

Weekly Assignment

For this week assignment, I have to answer some relevant questions about our final project.

What will it do?

My project is an automated aquarium, the control system takes measurements of water quality (pH, temperature, conductivity...) besides to regulate aquarium lighting. In this first version I'm just going to measure parameters in the following I will make a system to regulate the pH, and salinity automatically.

I decided to create the whole system within the LED screen, in this way is very easy to adapt any type of aquarium with this system.

Who's done what beforehand?

On the Internet there is much information on lighting, water quality and other important parameters, but I have not been able to find a complete non-commercial project.

The most interesting project where I could get a lot of information and ideas is the "Open Aquarium" project by Cooking Hack

What materials and components will be required?

• Crystals to make the tank
• Wood to build the table the table
• 20 power LEDs (10 white, 8 blue and 2 red)
• Acrylic to make LED display and the sump
• pH probe and temperature sensor
• Two current limiter for the LEDs
• PCBs and parts from the inventory used to build the Extreduino the power shield and the pH probe circuit

Where will they come from?

Most parts are from the FabLab (electronics, wood, PCBs ...) the only products that I had to buy that were not in the inventory are:

• Crystals to make the tank (shop in my city)
• 20 power LEDs (10 white, 8 blue and 2 red) (ebay)
• Acrylic to make LED display and the sump (shop in my city)
• pH probe and temperature sensor (DS18B20) (ebay)
• Two current limiter for the LEDs (ebay)
• Some electronic components to make the pH board (ebay)

How much will it cost?

This cost must be added the materials have caught from the FabLab (wood, electronic components, PCB's, vinyl...) this cost is estimated at about 50€

What parts and systems will be made?

All parts have been made except for current limiters these parts I do not have made them because the cost was much higher than buying them already made. Build current limiters cost 20€ each and buy them only 3€

What processes will be used?

• PCB Production for the Extreduino (controller board), power shield and pH probe board
• Laser cutting for the sump and the LED Display
• CNC mill for create the table

What tasks need to be completed?

Currently I have verified that all systems are working separately I have to program the controller so that they all work together add a screen to display the data and create the box where the whole system will be housed.

Initially I had thought to create a fully automated aquarium, because of time I will not be able to implement this system, so this first version will only control the lighting and displays the measured data of water, in the following versions I will go automating more i more the aquarium until it fully automatic.

What questions need to be answered?

I would create a system to correct the pH, salinity and other water parameters automatically, so it must develop a system that allows me to add liquids in very small concentrations. For that there are commercial solutions, but I want to develop my own system based on accessible components and that anyone can build.

My idea is to get through a syringe and squeeze the plunger small engine and can also add drops of sulucion you want to add.

What is the schedule?

• May 22 to 24 constructing the housing
• May 25 to 31 assemble the entire system and start programming
• June 1 to 10 Programming improvements and test

How will it be evaluated?

I will evaluate preliminarily the aquarium depending on the behavior that this has and accuracy by taking data, the final assessment will give me the fish and plants I will put in the aquarium. I need a few months to have a stable aquarium and to test the feasibility of the project