16. Applications and implications¶
Hello! Today, I will answer some questions about Applications and implications of my project.
What will it do?¶
My project is a PID control module, with which students can study and understand the parts of this type of controller.
In the assignments, I was devising some parts of my project, such as the panel or HMI.
Who has done what beforehand?¶
In week 2, I started with the design of the HMI (interface), it was something that I had already thought about, and that week I took the opportunity to go from idea to design. you can check it Here
What will you design?¶
If I talk about design, I think that the important thing is the structure. I have already designed the interface, but the structure for the sphere and the tube must be designed, the electronic part is also important. I will have to design a circuit that controls the speed of the fan, show data on the screen, receive information from the interface.
What materials and components will be used?¶
materials… I will use laser cut MDF for the structure (taking into account the size), I will also use Bakelite for the electronic circuit. As for the electronic components it would be: microcontroller - 4 - 5 potentiometers - 1 LCD display - 1 transistor - 1 fan - 1 sphere (technopor) - 1 mica - screws…
Where will they come from?¶
Mostly the fablab has the materials, such as: - MDF - LCD display - Potentiometers - microcontroller - transistor - Ultrasonic sensor. Other materials if I could find them in the local electronics market and bookstores, materials such as: - fan - sphere - mica
How much will they cost?¶
The costs I am going to mention are approximate based on the local costs of my city.
| Components | Quantity | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MDF | 2 | $2 |
| LCD display | 1 | $5 |
| Potentiometers | 5 | $5 |
| microcontroller | 1 | $6 |
| transistor | 1 | $3 |
| Ultrasonic sensor. | 1 | $3 |
| fan | 1 | $6 |
| sphere | 1 | $0.5 |
| mica | 1 | $0.2 |
| screws | 10 | $2 |
| power supply | 1 | $6 |
The total is 38.7 dollars. This calculation does not include the cost of using machines and labor. If I had to make an estimate, I think the cost of the project would be $50 to $60.
What parts and systems will be made?¶
- The support structure or chassis, of the entire system will be manufactured, specifically with laser cutting.
- The electronic board will also be manufactured, using the CNC.
- The sensor support and some trims will be 3D printed (for the potentiometers)
What processes will be used?¶
- Corte láser
- Fresado CNC
- Impresion 3D
- Diseño mecanico y electronico
- Programación
What questions need to be answered?¶
From the beginning I was moving forward thinking about how to solve certain problems of my project, some like:
- Could the air pushed by the fan raise the sphere? - Well, I chose a light technopor sphere.
- What size should the tube be? - Well, I limited myself to the size of the MDF sheets that fit into the laser cutter (90x60cm).
- What should the HMI be like? - straight, inclined, with keyboard or with potentiometers? In the end I decided inclined and with potentiometers.
- How will it be energized? - Well, I always wanted to use a single source, and I was forced to use voltage regulators (the fan requires 12 volts and the microcontroller 5v, so the source is 12 volts and I used a 5v regulator for the microcontroller).
How will it be evaluated?¶
The main thing.... can the module bring the sphere to the level indicated (reference)? I can modify the PID parameters (proportional, integral and derivative) with the potentiometers. Can you explain what a PID controller is? If the answer is YES to this last question, then I will have fulfilled my objective.
Say if my project is good or not, it was decided by students, in the end that was the goal,
Invite some university students who didn’t know about PID control yet and after a 5 minutes explanation about PID, let them experiment and draw their conclusions about the control actions. and all were largely correct conclusions about the Proportional, the Integral and the Derivative
In that sense, I consider it to be a success.