Fab Academy
Learning about Output Devices
To do:
Group assignment: I worked with my colleague Jhasmin Ayala
1. Measure the power consumption of an output device.
2. Document your work on the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned.
Individual assignment:
1. Add an output device to a microcontroller board you’ve designed and program it to do something.
WHAT I ALREADY KNOW BEFOREHAND?
A system that only perceives (input) is not useful; it must be able to act (output) to create an impact in the real world. This is equivalent to a company that, after analyzing the market (input), launches a campaign or product (output). I also understood that component selection must consider power consumption to choose the right balance of efficiency and operational cost.
Group assignment:
Check this link
Individual assignment:
1. Designing and 3D Printing a Hinge
• Concept: Designing a hinge that cannot be made subtractively is a great choice because hinges often require interconnected parts that are challenging to create through traditional machining methods.
• Tools: I experimented with Fusion 360 and Blender, ultimately choosing Blender, although I had to design using approximations. Blender is excellent for organic and complex shapes, while Fusion 360 is better for parametric and mechanical designs. For a hinge, Fusion 360 might have been more straightforward due to its precision tools.
• Challenges:
o Ensuring the hinge parts fit together properly.
o Designing for 3D printing constraints (e.g., overhangs, tolerances).
Reference video: this link
REFLECTIONS
Completing the "Input → Processing → Output" cycle is a fundamental milestone. It signifies the creation of a complete and autonomous cyber-physical system.