18. Applications and implications¶
This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process.
Individual assignment Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, answering:
- What will it do?
- Who’s done what beforehand?
- What will you design?
- What materials and components will be used?
- Where will come from?
- How much will they cost?
- What parts and systems will be made?
- What processes will be used?
- What questions need to be answered?
- How will it be evaluated?
In a sentence¶
A smart appliance for fermenting coffee beans in an enclosed vessel, using carbon dioxide (similar to wine-making).
What will it do?¶
It can measure temperature, CO2 concentration and optionally pH to help monitor fermentation process. In addition, it also makes use of LEDs to creatively display fermentation status and excite the user about the art of fermentation.
Who’s done what beforehand?¶
Searching for “fermentation” yields 37 potentially related Fab Academy projects
I narrowed the list further to a handful that are directly relevant.
Oxygen Purge System for Wine Storage Tank Fungarium - a digitally controlled box to observe and study the fungi growth Open Ecotrons
What will you design?¶
- A PCB and circuit to control the system
- A vessel for coffee beans
- An LED display, mounted on the outside of the vessel
- A mechanism to pump in carbon dioxide
What materials and components will be used? Where will come from? How much will they cost?¶
ELECTRONICS
| Qty | Description | Price | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CO2 gas sensor | 19.00 $ | ||
| 1 | temperature sensor | 1.50 $ | ||
| 1 | pH sensor | 13.60 $ | Optional | |
| 1 | ESP32 | 6.00 $ | ||
| 1 | Neopixel | 22.00 $ | ||
| 1 | Valve | 6.00 $ | ||
| 1 | Mini Display | 2.50 $ | ||
| 1 | Pump for CO2 / N2 | 2.00 $ | ||
| 1 | Power supply | 10.00 $ | ||
| Wires | 2.00 $ | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 56.60 $ |
HOUSING
| Qty | Description | Price | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stainless-steel tub | 3.00 $ | ||
| 1 | 3d-printed housing | 30 $ | ||
| SUBTOTAL | 36.00 $ |
TOTAL: 92.60 $
What parts and systems will be made?¶
- A 3d-printed ovoid-shaped vessel with a removable stainless steel tub inside for easy cleaning.
- A supporting stand for the vessel
- A PCB to control system
What processes will be used?¶
- 2D and 3D design,
- additive fabrication and
- subtractive fabrication processes,
- electronics design and production,
- embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming,
- system integration and packaging
What questions need to be answered?¶
- How much current does the system need, and what power supply is suitable?
- How to make a food-safe container using digital fabrication?
How will it be evaluated?¶
- The system is able to measure and display temperature,
- The system is able to measure and display CO2 concentration in ppm,
- The system is able to map and display temperature and CO2 concentration using Neopixels. For example, the higher the temperature, the redder the LEDs become.
- The system is able to close a solenoid valve and cut off CO2 flow when 95% of all oxygen inside the vessel has been purged.
- The vessel is food-safe and asy to remove and clean where it comes into direct contact with food.
Optionally - The system is able to measure and display pH level - The system is able to pump CO2 from a cartridge or a tank. - The system has an accompanying phone app that tracks sensor data from the vessel.
Project Checklist¶
- incorporate 2D and 3D design,
- additive fabrication 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
- show individual mastery of the skills, and be independently operable whether jointly or individually made