Applications and Implications, Project Development¶
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.
Learning Outcomes
- Define the scope of a project
- Develop a project plan including a bill of materials (BOM)
Have you answered these questions?
- What will it do?
- Who has done what beforehand?
- What will you design?
- What materials and components will be used?
- Where will they come from?
- How much will they cost?
- What parts and systems will be made?
- What processes will be used?
- What questions need to be answered?
- How will it be evaluated?
- what tasks have been completed?
- what tasks remain?
- what has worked? what hasn’t?
- what questions need to be resolved?
- what will happen when?
- what have you learned?
Q & A¶
What will it do?
My iPad management tracker will be able to keep track of and secure the iPads in our school. It will be able to manage the iPads by tracking which students has taken or returned an iPad using an RFID card.
Who has done it beforehand?
There are many similar projects developed for the similar purpose of management and security. For instance, schools and libraries have implemented RFID-based inventory tracking and locker access systems. Makers online have also created custom RFID-secured storage boxes and iPad charging stations. These existing projects inspired me to design a more personalized, integrated solution tailored to my school’s needs.
One particular person who has done a similar project from the previous years of Fab Academy is Alana Duffy. She made a similar system to mine, but instead of storing iPads, she made one to store medicines. I got a lot of inspirations as to how I should design my enclosure from her documentation.
What will you design?
- The iPad box keeping in mind the routes for wirings and the self-made extension cord
- Slots and compartments for my electronics
- A custom PCB
What material and components will be used?
- Plywood
- 3D printer filament
- Xiao ESP32C3 microcontroller
- LM532 RFID module
- Electromagnets
- Relay module
- Voltage regulators
- Wires
- 12V DC adaptor
- IR sensors
- Sockets
- Switch
Where will they come from?
The materials required are obtained from the Fab Lab itself or through Amazon and Robu if it is not in the lab. Sourcing parts in Bhutan can be quite tricky and challenging due to limited local availability and long shipping time. Therefore, planning carefully and ordering fast is very important. You must also always have back ups since some components doesn’t work.
How much will they cost?
Bill Of Materials¶
| Sl.No | Component Name | Specification | ₹ Price | Quantity | ₹ Cost | USD (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | XIAO board | XIAO ESP32-C3 | ₹ 471.00 | x1 | ₹ 471.00 | ~$5.67 |
| 2 | IR sensor | IR Obstacle Avoidance Sensor | ₹ 25.00 | x6 | ₹ 150.00 | ~$1.80 |
| 3 | RFID module | PN532 RFID module | ₹ 189.00 | x1 | ₹ 189.00 | ~$2.28 |
| 4 | Solenoid | P25/20 Holding Electromagnet | ₹ 699.00 | x6 | ₹ 4194.00 | ~$50.52 |
| 5 | Relay module | 3.3V Single Channel Relay Module | ₹ 70.00 | x1 | ₹ 70.00 | ~$0.84 |
| 6 | Adapter | Li-ion charger TNS30W-084120 | ₹ 300.00 | x1 | ₹ 300.00 | ~$3.61 |
| 7 | Hinges | Door Hinges | ₹ 209.00 | x1 | ₹ 209.00 | ~$2.52 |
| 8 | Regulator | AMS1117-3.3V Module | ₹ 14.00 | x1 | ₹ 14.00 | ~$0.17 |
| 9 | 3D Printer Filament | PLA Filament (1.75mm) | TBD | – | TBD | TBD |
| 10 | Plywood | 4 mm Plywood | TBD | – | TBD | TBD |
| 11 | Power Sockets | AC Power Sockets | ₹ 40.00 | x6 | ₹ 240.00 | ~$2.88 |
| 12 | Switch | Toggle/Push Button Switch | ₹ 30.00 | x1 | ₹ 30.00 | ~$0.36 |
| Total | ₹ 5867.00 + TBD | ~$70.15 + TBD |
I have hyperlinked the e-commerce platforms for each component I am using with the component name itself.
What parts and systems will be made?
Enclosure: the enclosure for my project will be made and designed by myself.
Locking Mechanism: the electromagnets holder is desgined and 3D pprinted by myself.
Custom extension cord: a compartment to hold all the sockets to chatrge the iPads and a common switch is designed and printed by myself.
Electronics holder: personal slots for all my electronics.
Digital System: Syncronization of the data collected(the UID of the card, timestamp of when the card was scanned, and etc) in a spreadsheet.
What processes will be used? - laser cutting for the enclosure - 3D designing and printing for the electromagnet slots. - CNC milling for PCB - soldering and circuit design - programming
What questions need to be answered?
- How will I make the outer box aesthetically pleasing?
- How will the extension cord be made to fit the back of my box?
How will it be evaluated?
If my project works as planned, it should be able to open with a valid RFID card, demagnetize the magnet to open the door, and accurately logs which iPad was taken and who took them.
what tasks have been completed?
- PCB design
- designing and cutting the enclosure
- 3D printing the legs
what tasks remain?
- final assembly
- board mill and solder
- final programming and testing
- video and slide
- painting the outer box.
what has worked? what hasn’t?
- the designs are accurate
- data gets successfully logged in spreadsheet
- tested all the electronics
What questions needs to be resolved?
- How will I be making the extension cord for my system?
- What will make the box secure and safe?
- Will the space in the back be too big to fit everything inside?
What will happen when?
To manage my time better and allocate the tasks effectively into my schedule, I made a GANTT chart.
You can access my GANTT chart here.
What have you learned?
- This course is almost coming to an end and within the span of just a few months, the amount of new things that I was able to learn is crazy. For starters, I learnt how to use a ton of softwares and machines in the lab, from milling PCB boards to using the CNC machine and printing fun stickers with the Vinyl cutter. I tried to implement them all in my final project.
Thank you!
The template for this website was provided by Mr. Anith Ghalley and used with his permission