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18. Project Development

What has been completed?

The ball gate also somewhat works, but I decided not to integrate it into the final project, as it would require some more testing and fine tuning. And would require me to fix the bottom of the board, as currently the balls do not roll nicely along it. The proper function of the gate would also require me to figure out a way to detect the ball in places other than the bumpers.

What tasks remain?

During the week 18, late May, almost nothing was finished. Even the solenoids were not powerful enough. The solenoids were fixed by shortening the length.

Currently the main things that remain are:

  • A ball detection system
  • A ball feeder
  • A chassis for the machine
  • Better board that uses the ball detection system
  • Lights
  • Graphics for the board

## What has worked, what hasn’t?

I have had problems with almost everything, but the main problems consist of:

In the end, I managed to get everything working, except for the ball feeder.

What needs to resolved?

Why the buttons that activate the paddles also sometimes activate one of more of the bumpers. This is most likely caused by the huge copper rings around the bumpers, that act as antennas, which react to the immense power fluctutations created by the 100W solenoids.

What will happen when?

The timeline is available in the Applications and Implications week.

What have I learned?

All the electricity stuff was new to me. The courses deal with a lot of electronics, but everything that is more complicated than “this wire is no/off and the other components reacts to it” is more complicated that I could really understand. Maybe some kind of multiplexed signaling is understandable still. But things like step response, or even Ohm’s law all look like magic to me. This course did not really go so deep on many of these things, and often expected me to already know that stuff, but in the end, I managed to get by.

Other than that, I know am able to use Autodesk Fusion to design 3D objects, and know many great ways to manufacture things that I might need in my life. 3D printing is fast and easy, but I will most likely not use it as much in future as I have in this course. I am much more interested in CNC-machining, molding and laser cutting, the more traditional ways of manufacturing.