Machine Video Presentation:-

You can refer our Group Page here

Introduction:-

In a bustling farming community, we set out to create a special machine to help with planting seeds. This machine would make the job of filling seedling trays much easier. Instead of doing it by hand, farmers could simply switch on the machine, and it would carefully place the seeds into the trays, saving them time and effort. With this new invention, planting seeds would be quicker and more efficient, promising a brighter future for farming.

Roles and Responsiblities

In this week it was a complete group assignment week, so as we are only 2 students, in fablab Vigyan Ashram, so we have divided our roles and Responsiblities.

Prachi:- Assembly, Electronics and end effector part, taking video and photos

Sumit:- Webpage, design and Mechanism part.

In this journey we had many individual contributor also who helped us a lot including our intructor, colleagues and other co-working person in Vigyan Ashram

Inspiration :-

So we had a lot of brain storming on selection of the machine to br made in this week, firstly we thought of a Hand Palm Art making machine(Mhendi), but later due to the complexiblities of the machine and crunch deadline, we decide to choose a fesible solution.So while having a walk through our backyard in vigyan Ashram Polyhouse we have observed a lady manual filling a seedling tray by her hand, and its was lot of time consuming and need pricise attention to put exactly only one seed at a time.

So this inspires us to make a machine which could do this automatically do this without human intervention.

Sketching

So we start sketching and collecting ideas and put on a piece of paper to final a sketch

CAD Modelling

We have decided to make basic gantry, and XY mechanism to navigate the machine at particular geaometric points.

We have refered some pre- designed part form GRABCAD, to assemble our machine.

We have also made our own part for pulley holder.

We have also designed and laser cut a plate to mount the stepper motor and attached the mounting plate to the gantry plate.

The most important part in the Machine is the end efector, so we have designed a integrated, extrude designed for drop seeds

Similarly we have desihgned a part to hold our end effector with the gantry on Y axis.

Parts and Components Used:-

Mechanical Components

1) Aluminium Extrusion Channels

Aluminium extrusion channels serve various purposes in framing, creating reveals, and protecting millwork edges. They enhance surfaces with ease of maintenance, cleaning, and polishing, making them ideal for diverse design projects.

2) Extrusion V Slots Joint

The L-shaped hidden corner bracket facilitates right-angle connections between aluminum profiles. Inserting the bracket ends into profile grooves and tightening set screws securely fixes the profiles. Widely used in industrial aluminum frame structures, 3D printers, CNC routers, laser engravers, and robotics projects.

3) Bearing Wheels

These spindle bearings offer a unique structure with large load capacity, high smoothness, reliability, and performance. Equipped with special anti-backlash gear pulleys, suitable for various printers, advertising copiers, printing machines, and industrial applications.

4) V Slot Gantry Plate

5) Aluminium Pulley

The GT2 Aluminium Pulley features 40 teeth, a 5mm bore, and a 6mm width. Constructed with high-quality aluminum, it offers strength, durability, and compatibility with GT2 6mm wide timing belts. Two set screws ensure firm attachment to a 5mm diameter shaft.

6) Timing Belt

The precision 10M GT2 Width 6mm Black Open Timing Belt is made from NEOPRENE Synthetic Rubber reinforced with fiberglass cords, providing superior strength. Suitable for various 3D printers and industrial applications.

Electronics

Arduino Uno

The Arduino Uno is an open-source microcontroller board based on the Microchip ATmega328P. Developed by Arduino.cc, it offers sets of digital and analog input/output pins for interfacing with various circuits and expansion boards.

CNC Shield

The CNC Shield V3.0 enables the construction of engraving machines, 3D printers, and mini CNC devices using an Arduino. Designed as a shield, it plugs directly onto an Arduino, requiring no external connections. Equipped with slots for stepper motor drive modules, enabling easy setup and control.

Motor Driver

The A4988 Module is a compact breakout board for Allegro's A4988 Stepper Motor Driver. Offering adjustable current limiting, over-temperature, and over-current protection, it provides precise control for stepper motors with a wide operating voltage range.

Nema 17 Stepper Motor

Known for precise position control, the NEMA17 4.8 kg-cm Stepper Motor offers 4.8 kg-cm of torque at 2.5A current per phase. Ideal for applications requiring excellent response to starting, stopping, and reversing pulses.

Fabrication

3D Printed Parts

We have printed and tested the 3D printed parts and assembled togheter to form a machine.

Laser Cutting Parts

We have laser cut the Mounting Plate on 6mm acrylic sheet.

Assembly Process

So we have now all the part togheter to start the assembly

1) Chassis Fitting

Firsty we have assembled the individual part of machine toghether to assemble this individual part into machine, we had followed the Bottom-up approach.

2) Gantry Plate Mounting

Mounted gantry plate with roller wheels for smooth X & Y axis motion, ensuring linear flow.

4) Timing Belt & Pulley Fitting

Utilized threaded pulleys and timing belts for motion transfer from motor to gantry plate.

6) Electronics Fitting

Completed all electronic connections and mounted components onto the machine.

5) Electronic Component Testing

Completed all electronic connections and conducted testing.

Individual Contribution:-

So as we were only 2 fabcademy students, we have to split the work and manage the project work between both of us, so as Prachi took the responsiblity of Design 3D part and I have work on Electronics connection and Coding.

This is how I automated the work by using GRBL and Universal Gcode sender.

7) GRBL with Arduino UNO

What is GRBL?

GRBL is an open source software or firmware which enables motion control for CNC machines. We can easily install the GRBL firmware to an Arduino and so we instantly get a low cost, high performance CNC controller. The GRBL uses G-code as input, and outputs motion control via the Arduino .

From the diagram we can see where the GRBL take place in the “big picture” of the working principle of a CNC machine. It’s a firmware that we need to install or upload to the Arduino so it can control the stepper motors of the CNC machine. In other words, the function of the GRBL firmware is to translate the G-code into motor movement.

How to Install GRBL:-

Firstly, to install or upload the GRBL to the Arduino we need the Arduino IDE.

Then we can download the GRBL from github.com

Download it as .ZIP file and then follow these steps:-

1. Open the grbl-master.zip file and extract the files
2. Open the Arduino IDE, navigate to Sketch > Include Library > Add .ZIP Library…






3. Add new library to Arduino IDE
4. Navigate to the extracted folder “grbl-master”, in there select the “grbl” folder and click the open file. Now we have to GRBL as an Arduino Library.

How to install grbl on arduino

Next, navigate to File > Examples > grbl > grblUpload. A new sketch will open and we need to upload it to the Arduino board. The code might look weird as it’s just one lines, but not worries, everything happens in the background in the library. So, we just have to select the Arduino board, the COM port and hit that upload button and we are done.

8) Gcode Testing with Universal Gcode

Universal Gcode Sender Tutorial

Grbl firmware is uploaded to Arduino Uno. Now we need software to convert our file into Gcode and calibrate our machine.

1. Download and install "Universal Gcode Uploader" software.

2. Open the software. You'll see options for machine connection, XY and Z controlling, console, and a visualizer.

3. Select the Grbl firmware, Arduino port, and baud rate. Then click on the connect option to connect the machine.

4. Setup and calibrate the machine by selecting the "Machine" option and then "Setup Wizard."

5. In the setup wizard, confirm the connection between UGS and firmware, then click next.

6. In the "motor wiring" option, correct any axis rotation direction if needed.

7. Calibrate the step by moving the axis in mm and checking the actual movement value in the machine. Enter the actual movement value, then update the calibration.

8. Enable limit switches if desired.

9. Use the console section to change axis speed, acceleration, and other parameters. Search for "$$" in the console, then copy and paste the values you want to change. Finally, click enter.

Follow these steps to set up and calibrate your CNC machine using Universal Gcode Sender.

Reference Files:-

All Design File Zip Folder