Assignment

Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered.

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.

See Final Project Requirements for a complete list of requirements you must fulfil.

The answers to the questions below will allow you to create your BOM (Bill Of Materials).

01— Final Project Question and Answer

• What will it do?

  Its an interactive kinetic sculpture. The intended purpose is to create an experience of self observation and reflection in within the context of a shared space. Through this I aim to promote a state of calm.

• Who’s done what beforehand?

  Several artists have done work similar to what I created (can be found here on my website) my concept was directly inspired by their work. Similarly, I was able to validate that the technical principles since I had found prevous work that had utilized peristaltic pumps and similar sensing systems.

• What will you design?

  I designed everything that I felt like was in my control to improve the project. Apart from raw materials and items that would be absurd to make (stock materials, rug, discrete electronics components etc.). Similarly, because it was aligned with my goals I very intentionally selected off the shelf boards that handled power conversion, USB C PD triggering, and MCU integration. I chose this route because reliability was my main concern.

• What materials and components were used?

  The primary materials used are rectangular aluminum profile, Matte PLA filament, and dibond (for stiffening key printed parts). Electronics used are covered in depth in the section Electronics & Control.

• Where did they come from?

  Component were sourced primarily from Digikey, amazon, and Leroy Merlin.

• How much will they cost?

  The project cost is somewhere around $1000 → $1500 including R&D.

• What parts and systems were made?

  Everything minus pre-existing libraries and prebuilt components that are listed in the structural component BOM and Electronics BOM.

• What processes will be used?

  3D printing is used heavily throughout the design in order to achieve my design goals for the form in a reasonable amount of time. Commercial board manufacturing and CNC at our lab was used to mill the Dibond pieces used for stiffening.

• What questions were answered?
  • How do I create an engaging interactive artwork?
  • How do I document a piece of work in a way that demonstrates my current abilities as and artist and as a design engineer?
  • How do I create a flexible electronics platform that can be integrated into other similar artistic projects?

• How will it be evaluated?

  There are a number of technical criteria the piece could be judged upon. Those aspects to me are only relevant insofar as they add to the piece itself. Above all else it is meant to be a work of art, so it must be both visually compelling and emotionally engaging for it to be a success.

• What tasks have been completed?

  Some of the things I have completed are:

  • The primary upper assembly has been completed
  • The electronic system has been tested.
  • I have acquired about 90% of the materials I need to complete the project.

• What tasks remain?

  Many design tasks remain. I need to:

  • Design the plate mount assembly
  • Design a new top cover for the top assembly
  • CNC mill the Dibond plates
  • Reintegrate the electronics system with the new sensors
  • Design the leg mounting plates/3D prints

• What has worked? What has not worked?

  I am happy to say that many of the important things have worked thus far. However, many improvements could be made by creating a new PCB design and several parts could be eliminated by redesigning the ring structure. I will likely do an in depth post mortem closer to the end of the project and decide if I want to invest more time in the project.

• What will happen when?

  Ummmm… Once 3 people sit down the droppers will start actuating at the particepants heart rate.

• What have you learned?
  • I have learned a lot about designing PCBs and am finally quite comfortable developing the boards I need and sending them out for manufacture.
  • Learned a lot about developing a piece of software effectively with an LLM like Gemini/ChatGPT
  • Gotten much more comfortable making large 3D printed projects with many joining faces

02— Bill of Materials

Electronics BOM (draft)

BOM: v1_Design (SENDER + RECEIVER) (1)

Quantity	Files & media	Name	$	Product Link
2		Adafruit USB Type C Power Delivery Dummy Breakout - I2C or Fixed - HUSB238	$5.95	https://www.adafruit.com/product/5807
4		DC-DC Multi-output Buck Converter (3.3V/5V/9V/12V)[DFR1015]	$5.00	https://www.dfrobot.com/product-2599.html
3		Gravity: Digital Peristaltic Pump	$24.00	https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1698.html
1		Gravity: 360 Degree Rotary Encoder Module	$9.90	https://www.dfrobot.com/product-2575.html
1		Grove - OLED Display 0.96" (SSD1315) I2C Interface Compatible with Arduino	$6.00	https://www.seeedstudio.com/Grove-OLED-Display-0-96-SSD1315-p-4294.html
3		Gravity: MAX30102 PPG Heart Rate and Oximeter Sensor (I2C/UART)	$21.90	Link
3		XIAO 60GHz mmWave Human Breathing and Heartbeat Sensor -[MR60BHA2]	$29.90	link
4		4.7 kOhms ±1% 0.25W, 1/4W Resistencia en microprocesador 1206 (3216 métrico) Resistente a la humedad Película gruesa [CR1206-FX-4701ELF] (100)	$1.18	Link
4		RES SMD 1K OHM 1% 1/4W 1206 [CR1206-FX-1001ELF] (100)	$1.66	Link
2		DIODE SCHOTTKY 40V 1A DO214AC [SS14]	$0.29	Link
2		Rocker Switch SPST 10A (AC) 125 V Panel Mount, Snap-In [RD11131121]	$0.90	https://www.digikey.es/en/products/detail/e-switch/RD11131121/4029076
4		7 Posiciones Cabecera Conector 0.100" (2.54mm) Orificio pasante Oro [S7040-ND]	$0.53	Link
1		BUSOHE Cat 8 Ethernet Cable 10M, Flat Network Cable RJ45 Gigabit	$16.00	link
2		2 Position Wire to Board Terminal Block Horizontal with Board 0.197" (5.00mm) Through Hole [691137710002]	$2.16	Link
4		GROVE CABLE 4POS 50CM 2PACK [A034-C]	$1.95
4		Gravity: Digital Sensor Cable for Arduino - 50cm (10 Pack)	$6.50	Link
4		CONN HEADER VERT 3POS 2.54MM	$0.10	link
11		CONN HEADER R/A 3POS 2MM [S3B-PH-SM4-TB]	$0.60	Link
		GROVE FEMALE HEADER R/A 20PACK	$2.80	Link
		Mini LED Spotlight 9 Pack 12V 1W

Structural BOM (draft)

Below is a rough draft for of the BOM for the structural components.