Fab Academy
Learning about System Integration
To do:
Individual assignment:
1. Design and document the system integration for your final project
WHAT I ALREADY KNOW BEFOREHAND?
When I think of systems integration, I envision an orderly box where everything is harmoniously placed, allowing for correct functionality. Furthermore, anyone should be able to understand the logic and functionality of the circuits and connections. Neglecting this aspect can cause the project to fail or create great confusion about the components, leading to complications for any audit or process improvement.
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
There is a difference between a "collection of parts" and a robust integration of these parts to create a "product." Achieving integration requires being organized and ensuring that the design layout maintains that order and, if necessary, allows for portability.