Machine Design

Group Assignment

For this assignment, we designed a machine that can pick and sort LEGO bricks. The picker moves based on pre-configured coordinates to pick a brick and place it at a set compartment.

The Idea

We came accross this idea while looking into previous projects and liked the concept. We decided to proceed with the idea and the design to enhance the structural support of the machine.

The pricker sorts the bricks using color sensors. It picks up the specificied colors and places them in one compartment.

We used Nadya Peek’s cardboard stages from this page. We wanted to have 3 axis and using these stages would simplify the design and assembly process with our limited lab access. As we progressed with design and planning, we quickly realised we had to simplify the concept to be fit the time frame we had. To simplify the machine, we changed movement to be based on pre-configured coordinates to pick and place the bricks in one set compartment. We also changed to two axis (X and Y) and stabilised the tray on the base.

Design

The pricker sorts the bricks using color sensors. It picks up the specificied colors and places them in one compartment.

then designed the base of the machine which will hold the Z axis linear stages, the tray and tray support.

then started building the model, creating the joints, and adding the compartment walls.

Finally, I created an additional base for extra support, flattened all my parts on the same plane and exported them using shaper.

Final design:

Assembly

for the parts we needed, we disassembled a CR3 printer and took the motor parts we needed for our design.

we used the stages file to cut them out in the laser cutter

we got the support shafts needed for the stages.

We faced a lot of issues when cutting the stages, it was either cutting with too much power or not enought.

after a long night, we decided to proceed with the parts we have to test the mechanism. We can go back after and revise the setting + adjustments based on the test results.

we assembeled the parts and clamped them together

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