Week 18
Assignment 19
Project Development:

Project Development:

In this last Eighteenth week of Fab Academy, we had to explore about Project Development.

Objective:

Individual Assignment:

  • Complete your final project tracking your progress..

    • Learning Outcomes:

  • Implement project plan
  • Apply time management techniques
  • Summarise and communicate the essence of your project development

    • Checklist:

  • What tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain? ✔
  • What has worked? what hasn't? ✔
  • What questions need to be resolved? ✔
  • What will happen when? ✔
  • What have you learned? ✔

    • Opening Quotes:

    What tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain?

    Requirement for the Final Project to qualify and comply with the Standards of Fab Academy are:

    Tasks Completed:

    2D Design:I have completed the 2D design of the rectangular plates to be welded on the Base Platform of the Balance for attaching the Load cell.
    Two plated are of 14"*33" dimensions and the Platform is of the size 1.5 * 3 feet.

    3D Design:I have designed the Base, Platform, Sidewalls and Entry Exit Gates in Autodesk Inventor and assembled them.

    Additive Fabrication Process:I have 3D Printed the Casing for the 16*2 LCD and the RFID Tag Reader

    Substractive Fabrication Process:I have milled the PCB for my Final Project Board.
    I have also cut the Casing for the PCB and other Peripherals to be attached.

    Electronics Design and Production:I have designed the Board of Final Project in Eagle and milled it on the SRM20 machine. I then stuffed and soldered all the components like the ESP32 SMD Microcontroller, Voltage Regulator Switch, Tactile switch, Push Button, Capacitors, Resistors, LED, Connecting Headers on the Board.

    Microcontroller Interfacing and Programming:I have also interfaced the RFID Tag Reader, HX711 module and LCD with the ESP32. I programmed the Final Project Board for getting the Readings from the Load cell, RFID Tag Reader and then displaying the Weight on the LCD.
    Stil, the Program/Sketch/Code needs to be refined.

    System Integration and Packaging:I have done the welding of the Base, Platform, Gates and Side walls of the Weighing Scale. I aslo finshed the application of Primer(Red Oxide - to prevent Rusting)
    I have already Caliberated the Load Cell. I used the Flask from the Soil testing Lab and poured 1Liter water into it to standardize the weight. The Caliberation factor before assembling was 29730 and conducted few tests with the household items like Soaps, Biscuits, 7.5 Kg Dumbell, 30 Kg Rice and few Volunteer friends to check their weights.

    Tasks Remaining:

    There is always Room for Improvement. More you discuss your project with others, more ideas and suggestions are received. So, certain tasks that are remaining in the Project are:

    What has worked? what hasn't?

    The ESP 32 Board for Final Project worked well till the Interfacing week but was showing the 3V3 and GND short (connectivity). I tried researching the reason behind but Alas! couldnt find it. It might have been because of the Capacitor, Electrostatic charge, improper handling of the Board, faulty and incorrect connections.

    I just moved on with Soldering the new smd ESP32 uC on the Board. But, few days later, it was also not working and the same problem happened not only with me but with Anand Tale as well. Now, it was a matter of concern but taking into consideration the deadline for the Final project, I milled new Board with seperate provision for Vcc(5V) for LCD and HX711 and 3V3 for RFID. Earlier, I was providing 3V3 to all the components. Also, the older board was fried and its traces were burnt due to Desoldering using the Hoat Air gun.

    Working Components and Peripherals:

    Non - Working Components and Peripherals:

    What questions need to be resolved?

    What will happen when?

    Tasks:Date:
    Attaching Load Cell with the Platform and
    Assembling the Weighing Balance    		5th June
    Final hand of Color on the Scale
    (Will allow it to dry)    		6th June
    Fabrications of final assembly for the final project7th June
    Editing the final program as per requirement
    and objective of my final project
    Refining the Code for displaying the Weight
    for longer time on the screen    		8th June
    Final Packaging the box and connections
    Caliberation and Trials/Tests
    TroubleShooting    		9th June
    Arranging and Organizing the Snaps and
    Video Clips for Slide and Video Preparation    		10th June
    Video Editing and Pushing on the Repo11th June

    What have you learned?

    These 20 Weeks of Fab Academy training was a fruitful learning experience. This course is designed beautifully in such a way that not only the Technical skills are imparted and honed but most importantly, Interpersonal skills, Being a Team Member and Contributor, Initiative taking, Experimenting, Exploring, Failing - Fast and Learning from them, Stretching the Limits, Following Timelines, Managing Temperament, Moving ON etc. are also acquired.

    1. I learned to Plan ahead the activities and Tasks that I will pursue.
    2. I learned about the various Design Softwares for 2D and 3D design. I even was able to design the PCB in Eagle, Objects in FreeCAD, Inventor, Rhino.
    3. I learned about operating the CNC machines like SRM20 for PCB milling, Laser Cutter(SIL) for Cardboard, Acrylic, MDF materials; Plasma Cutter(Steel Tailor) and Automatic Sewing Machine(Usha), 3D Printer (Fractal Works)
    4. I learned about various Electronic MicroController families, Peripherals - Input and Output Devices, Sensors and Actuators. I also used them in my Final Projects and other Assignments.
    5. I learned about Programming the Arduino Uno and other chips.
    6. I even learned about Interfacing and Networking of the board.
    7. I was able to create my first Application of Kg to Liters Convertor in MIT App Inventor.
    8. I learned about Molding and Casting process and materials used for it.
    9. A detailed Plan about Idea Generation to Final Prototyping and Plan to dissiminate it to the targetted audience was prepared with Managerial aspects of IPR, Marketing Plan, Business Model, Financing (BOM)etc.

    Summary:

    In this week,

    I had explained about the progress of my Final Project. I tried to summarize about the Difficulties faced, Tasks completed and the remaining tasks and when they need to be done.