WEEK 9: Machine design

This weeks assignment was in groups. We divided in groups of three people. My group was together with Denise and Gerardo.
The assignment itself was about designing a machine that includes mechanism + actuation + automation.

As we were three groups, we decided to design three machines that could be able to fight against each other. The rules of the game were basically that you need to touch a button in the other machine in order to win.

We made a groupal assignment site where all the process is documented:
http://fabacademy.org/2021/labs/barcelona/students/awesomemachine1/

My specific contribution to the assignment was:

• Collaborating in the whole concept and design

In the begining, the whole group together, we decided what were we going to design and how, defining the rules and parameters.



From this plan we started creating the first sketches that then I started designing in 3d with Rhinoceros.

• Designing, testing and laser-cutting the base

In the designing process, I worked with Rhinoceros. First to create a 3D model of the base.
As we the three groups were sharing the same base design, we decided to make a base with a lot of holes so every group could feel free to attach whatever they want to the base.
The design itself responded to the requirements of simplicity, so we decided to make the simplest vehicle with two wheels in the front and a free wheel in the back.




Then I did some tests in different materials to adjust all the dimmensions





I also tested tolerances, for example for the screws:



• Desgining, testing and 3d printing the base for the buttons

In order to hold the buttons to the base, I designed and printed a support where the buttons could be screwed in. It also had a hole to pass the cables through.




• Designing the holder for the batteries

As the machines needed to be autonomous, we decided to power them with batteries, so I designed and printed a battery holder to attach to the base.



• Designing, testing and laser-cutting the tool

For our tool itself (a wheel with several hands to slap the other machines), I designed it in Rhinoceros and then cut it with the laser cutter. First we made tests in carboard and the we made it in acrylic.






• Assembling everything

Lastly, I assembled everything together.



This is a time-lapse of the assembly process:

Final result:

All the pictures, explanations, materials, files, and final video, can be found in our machine website.

Conclusion:

This was a strange week. I had to acquire a lot of new knowledge in a really short time, and we had to deal with stuff that we were not supposed to know yet, like controlling motors, inputs, outputs, networking and more.
So it was definetly a crazy week, but it was really interesting thanks to all the explanations given by our instructors, specially all the explanations about the operation of CNC machines.
About the assignment itself, it was very satisfiying to see how well we were able to work in groups, and the optimization we achieved by splitting tasks.
It was also a very fun week, and we enjoyed a lot teasing the other groups and vice versa.