What will he do?
The project proposal for the FabLab will help us to teach process control theories to students, regulating the liquid level in a tank built with cheap material, but we want it to be resistant and allow us to give learning sessions to learn about the elements, types, control actions and everything related to the control of industrial processes, whether working with a microcontroller, PLC, digital circuits, FPGA, etc.
Who has done what beforehand?
In every institution involved with education they seek to have learning modules, each of them generates a proposal, but many times they do not use known materials or use tools that are not available to the majority, there are also companies that market modules of this type , but they are very expensive both for the hardware and the software used, so I consider building this educational module in our FABLAB that can be used by any educational institution.
What will you design?
I will start by designing the structure of our module in a 2D plotter (AutoCAD) for a thickness of 12 mm in MDF, we simulate its assembly by generating a 3D model before cutting, with the laser machine.
I will design the electronic boards in KICAD, using the milling machine for the tracks of the electronic boards of the control system, while still using some commercial boards necessary for the project. We will consider that the solenoid valves are 220V and we will assemble an optocoupled triac strip to control the opening and closing of the solenoid valves.
For our project we will adapt the humidity sensors and distance meter to know the liquid level in the tanks with personalized supports printed in 3D with PLA to improve their performance.
We are also designing the logo of our module "KIT FLUID CONTROL" with the help of the Inkscape program.
What materials and components will be used?
To carry out our project we will need:
A small water pump 3L/min.
½ inch PVC water pipe.
Washing machine solenoid valves (recycled)
Sealant and Teflon tape for water pipes.
Connection cables
gutters
electrical terminals
Power source for control and power part
3mm thick MDF.
12 mm thick MDF
Xiao rp2040
Power stage with optocoupled triac
Humidity sensor
ultrasound sensor
USB Cable
Where will it come from?
The materials will be obtained from FabLab U. Continental, support from the Tupac Amaru institution in Cusco, own resources to buy other components for the water installations in local hardware stores, as well as in local electronics stores.
How much will they cost?
The cost to develop the project considering reusing some materials we will only try to spend only 100.00 USD.
What parts and systems will be manufactured?
1. We will design the structure in 12mm MDF
2. We will build the upper cover of the electronic circuits and the cover of the module with the logo in 3mm MDF.
3. We will adapt all the sensors as required in AutoCAD and print in PLA.
4. Connections from the microcontroller to the sensors and the power card for the solenoid valves.
What processes will be used?
Laser cutting and engraving
cnc cut
3d print
Electronic Design and Electronic production.
What questions need to be answered?
Will the capacity of our tanks be enough to demonstrate control actions?
Will the sensitivity of the sensors be appropriate?
Will the 3 solenoid valves be enough?
Will the structure be comfortable for transport?
Will serial communication between the PC and the module work?
How will it be evaluated?
Previously, the operation of the sensors and actuators will be tested separately and once they are working correctly, we prepare a control system in LabView and serial communication with our control card to experiment with our project based on an all or all control action. Nothing to prove it works.
To improve this project, it is desired that students be able to interact with the module remotely, be able to program and test it from home, since the module can be used in the laboratory or in a specific application.
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