Week 12

This is my 12th week at FabAcademy. In this week we dealt with mechanical design, which has been very challenging and allowed me to integrate most of what I have learnt in Fab Academy so far. The assignment of the week consisted of:

group assignment

  • design a machine that includes mechanism+actuation+automation+application
  • build the mechanical parts and operate it manually
  • document the group project and your individual contribution

Group Assignment

Inspired by the designs developed by other authors, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy15lyZ27XQ&t=320s and https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=QDD4cAwSmsT80ntJ&v=iszZNNzIRAg&feature=youtu.be, we created a camera slider tailored to serve as a video recording hub building’s mock ups made by our students at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of A Coruña. The idea has been to create a machine that allows for professional recording of architectural mock ups and ideas, so hopefully it can be of high utility and interest to our school and the students. Achieving this machine required digital and parametric fabrication of 3D plastic parts, mechanical connectors, electronics design and fabrication, and electronics integration. Here you can see the full details of our group work: https://fabacademy.org/2025/labs/aindustriosa/week12.html

Individual Assignment

Regarding the individual work I covered the following tasks of this mechanical design:

Material Review - All

Conducted an inventory of required components for project execution, ensuring availability and proper management.

PCB Design - Pablo

Developed the PCB layout using KiCAD, focusing on optimal trace routing and component placement.

PCB Milling - Pablo and Pepe

Generated toolpaths from SVG files using VCarve and executed the milling process.

PCB Coding - Pepe and Francisco

Adjusted pin configurations and reviewed code provided by ProKnow’s to ensure compatibility with our setup.

Pre-Assembly of Components - Francisco and Pepe

Assembled components prior to final integration to assess overall system functionality.

Parametric Design in Grasshopper - Pepe

Designed and 3D printed a component integrating the toothed crown and camera mount into a single piece.

*GT2 Timing Belt Modeling in OpenSCAD - Francisco and Pepe

Calculated the required number of teeth, created a 3D model, and printed it using TPU on the Prusa MK3S+.

*Control Box and Mount Design - Francisco

Created parametric models for the control box and component mounts, optimized meshes, and performed precise dimensional adjustments for component integration.

Spacer Design and 3D Printing - Pablo

Designed and printed a spacer to be placed between both rails, enhancing the structure’s transverse rigidity.

Wiring Preparation - Pepe, Francisco and Pablo

Prepared motor wiring and installed cable protection sleeves to ensure organized and secure connections.

Testing and Movement Trials - Pepe, Francisco and Pablo

Conducted multiple tests and movement trials, leading to the redesign and re-fabrication of several components.

Website Media Selection - Pepe, Francisco and Pablo

Selected videos and photographs for organizing the sections of the group website and participated in reviewing and developing the website content.

Slide Preparation - Pepe##

Designed and assembled the presentation slide with assistance from Luis.

Video Preparation - Pablo and Francisco

Prepared a summary video showcasing the project’s development and outcomes, with support from Luis.