Week 12
Mechanical design, machine design
Week assignment
Mechanical design. Part 1/2
- Group assignment:
- Design a machine that includes mechanism + actuation + automation + application ✔
- Build the mechanical parts and operate it manually ✔
- Document the group project ✔
- Individual assignment:
- Document your individual contribution ✔
Machine design. Part 2/2
- Group assignment:
- Actuate and automate your machine ✔
- Document the group project ✔
- Individual assignment:
- Document your individual contribution ✔
Group assignment
This week, our objective was to build a camera slider, a machine I’ve wanted to make for a long time and one that will be very useful for all the architecture students when preparing presentations of their physical scale models. Rather than starting from scratch, we reviewed several existing projects from other users—there are some truly interesting proposals. In our case, we decided to build a machine that allows for two combined movements: one along the X-axis, and another rotational movement around the Z-axis.
Our contribution focuses on designing a new PCB and creating parametric models for the end rail supports. One of these supports will house the connection box. We will also improve the camera mount by making it integral with the driven wheel to increase rigidity and avoid unwanted movements and vibrations.
All the information about the process is documented on the group webpage.
Individual assignment
As a team member, I was responsible for the following tasks:
- Material review required for the project execution and supply management. Pepe, Francisco, Pablo
- PCB design done in KiCAD. Pablo
- Milling of the PCB. Toolpath generation from SVG files using VCarve. Pablo and Pepe
- Assembly of components on the PCB including soldering and circuit testing. Pablo and Francisco
- PCB coding by adjusting the connection pins, and reviewing and verifying the code shared by ProKnow’s. Pepe and Francisco
- Component pre-assembly before the final setup to test the functionality of the system. Pepe and Francisco
- Parametric design in Grasshopper and 3D printing of the component that integrates the toothed crown; this piece includes the camera mount in a single part. Pepe
- Programming in OpenSCAD of the GT2 timing belt. I calculated the required number of teeth, generated the 3D model, and printed it using TPU on our Prusa MK3S+. Pepe and Francisco
- Parametric design of the control box and the mounts for the machine’s components. I optimized the mesh and 3D printed the parts. Francisco carried out all the dimensional adjustments with great precision for the OLED display, power button, and reset button. I integrated these components into their final positions in the enclosure and its cover. Pepe
- Design and 3D printing of the spacer located between both rails to provide greater transverse rigidity to the structure. Pablo
- Preparation of all the wiring connections. All of us prepared the motor wiring and installed the cable protection sleeve. Pepe, Pablo, Francisco
- Assembly of the camera slider structure and adjustment of all its components. Pepe, Pablo, Francisco
- Conducting multiple tests and movement trials with the help of my teammates, which led to the redesign and re-fabrication of several components. Pepe, Pablo, Francisco
- Selection of videos and photographs for organizing the sections of the group website. All of us participated in reviewing the website text and building it. Pepe, Pablo, Francisco
- Slide preparation I was in charge of designing and assembling the slide with Luis’s help. Pepe
- Video preparation Pablo and Francisco, with the help of Luis, prepared the summary video of our work. Pablo and Francisco
Final Thoughts
It’s been a few intense days, full of hard work. Meeting the deadline to present the video to Neil and the entire FabAcademy family has demanded the best from us. Without Luis’s help, we wouldn’t have made it. Thank you so much, Luis!
We’ve learned a lot about building a machine—how to control motors, how to improve a previous design—and best of all, students at the A Coruña School of Architecture now have a camera slider that will make it easier to document and present their projects.