Final project¶

My final project concept is a playing card dealer. I considered other ideas, see week 1 writeup for the other considered ideas. Sketches for the card dealer follow.

Background¶

I frequently play card games, particularly with my daughter. She does not enjoy shuffling and dealing cards. She has shown me products on Amazon that can shuffle and deal cards. Using that as inspiration, I will make a card dealer.

Features¶

Two halves of card deck loaded onto platforms
Human dealer sets # players and # cards into input interface
Automatic dealer activated
Gears at top of dealer push card halves into a chamber
These halves are pushed simultaniously and interlaced (shuffled)
After shuffling, dealing begins
Based on # of players, shuffler rotates to set positions
At each position, a single card is dealt
Repeat until # cards reached

Initial workplan¶

29 January 2025

There are several steps which are likely to be difficult. Consequently, the project will be broken into distinct steps. Each will further the functionality.

These are conceived to be developed in three steps. Key points are noted for each step.

Card distribution
1. Ensure that the mechanism distributions a single card at a time
2. Test a variety of cards (sizes, coatings, age, and more)
Card dealing
1. Put the card distributor on a platform that can rotate
2. The rotations need to stop and set positions
3. These need to be repeated for the numbers of rounds
Card shuffling
1. Add to the dealing mechanism
2. Could be developed independently of the steps above
3. Needs to shoot cards concurrently so they interlace
4. A perfectly interleaved Faro Shuffle would be ideal, though not a necessary requirement

Updated workplan¶

25 April 2025

Based on experience gained up to the group machine build, I am updating my workplan based on experience to date. Other than making project choices during each week which could be applied to my final project, I am just starting work on the final project. I have also learned which aspects might be more difficult than others. I am encouraged that we made a machine in four days, however that required a full team and I know I have significant work to accomplish.

While my view on the key aspects and steps remain unchanged, I need to break the above into spirals. For the initial work, I am focusing on the distribution and dealing, initially forgoing the shuffling aspect.

Electrical designs¶

My electrical board design will relies upon the following components:

One A4988 motor control board
- Controls stepper motor
- Requires 12V
Five buttons
- Two for # players up/down
- Two for # cards up/down
- One to start dealing
LCD display to report status
- Diplay via I2C communication
RP2040 microprocessor
- Mounted via socket
- Pins used
  - SDA for I2C
  - SCL for I2C
  - Five pins for buttons
  - Two pins for stepper motor control
  - One pin to activate DC motor
Socket for QC power
- Convert 5V to 12V for stepper motor control
One pin uncommitted
- This can be used for additional functionality
- If one pin is insufficient, I2C nodes can also be added with specific functions

I do not yet have a PCB designed for the electronics. However, these requirements are very similar to the design created for our group plotting machine. This will be the basis of an electronic board.

Card dealing mechanical design¶

The design for the mechanical portion is currently in sketch form.

A side mounted DC motor will drive a long roller. The roller will be over the cards, which is holding it by tension. Cards will be ejected via a slot in the box.

Card distribution design¶

This will be the next spiral, and specific design is still under consideration. This will invoke the stepper motor

Work schedule¶

Week of April 28, working motor control board
Week of May 5, work on card holding box, and DC motor distribution
Week of May 12, work on putting components together

I don’t have specific plans beyond these dates. There is a significant complication for our lab. On May 14, the lab will closed for renovations. Some tools will still be available, but it may be limited. I will need to adjust work based on tool availability.