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16. Applications and Implications

Assignment:

  • Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, answering the following questions.

  • Your project should incorporate:

    • 2D and 3D design

    • Additive 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 Projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of the skills, and be independently operable

Q&A

Q: What will it do?

  • A: My final project, The Smart Medicine Box, will record how many times the door is opened with a Time of Flight sensor and display the number on an I2C LCD screen. It will also have a solenoid lock that is controlled by a keypad that is opened via a programmable 4-digit code.

Q: Who’s done what beforehand?

Q: What will you design?

  • A: I will design, essentially, a box. More specifically, I will CAD design the box sides, shelves, wire covers, and PCB cases. I will then CAM design the box sides. I will also design my boards in KiCad.

Q: What materials and components will be used?

  • A: 1/2” and 1/8” plywood, Moldstar, metal, plastic, vinyl, and prusa filament.

Q: Where will come from?

  • A: The lab and Home Depot/Lowes.

Q: How much will they cost?

  • A: My Bill of Material’s total cost comes out to ~ $148.57 USD.

Q: What parts and systems will be made?

  • A: The 1/2” plywood will make the box sides; the 1/8” wood will make the shelves and wire covers; the Moldstar will make the I2C LCD case; the metal will be in the screws, hinges, doorhandle, bolts, washers, and most of my electronic components; the plastic will make the wire tubes and clamps; the vinyl will make the “The Smart Medicine Box” sticker; the prusa filament will make the mold for the LCD case and the board cases.

Q: What processes will be used?

  • A: CAD, CAM, 3D printing, moulding & casting, laser cutting, CNC routing, embedded programming, electronics production (milling & soldering), and electronics design.

Q: What questions need to be answered?

  • A: How will it all work together? (ex. the wires used for programming are far too short to be able to reach the electronic’s hiding box at the top of the smart medicine box, how will this be solved?)

Q: How will it be evaluated?

  • A: By the final project rubric/requirements. The full list can be found at this link.

Bill of Materials

Google Sheets Bill of Materials Link

Planning Schedules

System Diagram & Gantt Chart

I created this system diagram with Lucid App to help visualize what needed to be done in each step of the process for my final project:

Below is the Gantt Chart I made so that I can stay on track and complete my final project:

At this point, I am fairly behind with my schedule; however, finishing is still very possible. My current To-Do list is as follows:

Box:

  • Fusion file

  • Aspire file

  • CNC

  • Install hardware inside (hinges, adjustable shelving stuff, etc.)

Shelves:

  • Fusion/Correl Draw file

  • Laser cut

  • Get adjustable shelving hardware

Door Lock:

  • Mon/Tues arrival of parts to get solenoid working

    • Get solenoid working

  • Figure out what microcontroller can handle 12V of power to control & communicate between solenoid & keypad (maybe need to do bluetooth/networking stuff w Nrf)

  • Code the keypad & solenoid so that a combo will unlock the door

Etc.

  • Figure out how to instal it all

    • CAD designs

    • 3D print them

Make slideshow & video:

  • Watch previous year’s videos

  • Make it!!

Last update: September 6, 2024