16. System Integration

There’s a checklist for System Integration:

  • ❔ Implemented methods of packaging?
  • ✅ Designed your final project to look like a finished product?
  • ✅ Documented system integration of your final project?
  • ✅ Linked to your system integration documentation from your final page?

I’ll permit myself a bit of non-linear time in writing this as I’ve already presented the project.

Starting off with the first question on the checklist, “Implemented methods of packaging?” For the moment, the “packaging” consists of the fact that the machine is semi-disassemblable into four main components. These are:

  • The lift: Cardlift

  • The chute: Chute

  • The PCB Enclosure: PCBEnclosure

  • The Servo Arm: ServoArm

All four of these connect together. The Lift, Chute and PCB Enclosure connect together using dovetails and the servo arm slides into mounting holes on the lift. With the current cable routing they’re not exactly modular. But it’s a step in the right direction. There’s a lot of redundant mass that could be eliminated, The PCB Enclosure is a nice example of the design language I have in mind for the future.

The cable routing leads into the next question: “Designed your final project to look like a finished product?” The current version is definitely a finished final project. But it’s not something I’d consider worthy of the title “Product”. The current iteration is functional enough for my own use but with some tuning required. The ideal would be to have the machine easily transportable by keeping each component a solid assembly. I’d want to do this by adding some sort of solid connector to handle the cables between each component. Probably some sort of JST connector. In the current configuration here are four sets of cables going to the PCB enclosure. Three from the lift and one from the arm. I hid the stepper and bottom endstop cables underneath the lift itself going straight into the enclosure but the servo and top endstop are dangling loose. Transporting the machine today I managed to snap one of the cables for the top endstop. This was mostly due to a shoddy solder-job as I was crunching to finish the assembly. If I had connectors between each component instead of dangling cables I wouldn’t have that issue.

UhOhEndstop

Third and most important question: “Documented system integration of your final project?”

I’ve written down most of my thoughts on what I could’ve done better but there are some things I’m very happy with. The general shape of the thing, Whilst strange is something I’m rather proud of. I feel the shape of the machine conveys it’s function clearly and the design is clear enough that even the least tech-minded people I’ve shown the machine understood the principles almost immediately. I’m also fairly happy with the shapes and silhouettes on display, Although there’s a lot of elements to polish. I particularly like the servo arm and PCB enclosure with their rounded shapes. I’ll definitely be re-doing the lift and chute to match that design language. I’m a sucker for rounded corners. I’m also especially happy with how the PCB enclosure came out. There’s a lot of stuff to fine-tune and I’ll continue working on this and documenting it far after graduating. Simply because it’s a machine that should save me a lot of time.

Ideal

Last and final question: “Linked to your system integration documentation from your final page?” Yes.