12. Machine Design¶

This week's documentation is posted on on my Fabmate Devanshi's page

Final Product¶

Poster¶

Final Video¶

A huge thanks to our mentors, Jesal Sir and Pranav Sir, whose guidance anchored our team throughout Machine Design Week. I played a key role in several critical parts of the project, especially focusing on actuation, coding, assembly, and the design of mechanical components.

Ideation and Prototyping¶

During the project planning phase, we focused on selecting the right materials and calculating their costs to fit our budget. We also worked on linking the design concept with the mechanical parts, ensuring that the structure would support the movement and actuation smoothly. This step was important to make sure the design wasn’t just visually appealing but also practical and functional. Planning these details ahead helped us avoid problems later and made the building process more efficient.

Actuation¶

For the actuation I started off by understanding the motor and how it works. This was a new experience for me, and I learned a lot while working through it. To start, I tested the motors using an Arduino board by writing simple programs to check if the motors could start, stop, change speed, and reverse direction. This helped ensure that the motors and wiring were working correctly.

For motor control, we used a motor driver board. The motor driver acts as a bridge between the Arduino and the motors, allowing the Arduino to send commands safely. Since motors require more current than the Arduino can supply directly, the motor driver handles this higher power demand and protects the Arduino from damage. I connected the motors to the driver and programmed the Arduino to control motor speed and direction smoothly. I also ensured the motor driver was powered correctly, sometimes using a separate power source to avoid overloading the system.

Design Process¶

During the design phase, I created and tested theb holders. These holders were designed to securely hold the motors in place and included a special feature where nuts could be embedded directly into the 3D print. This meant that the nuts would be placed inside the model as it was being printed, providing strong and precise fastening points without needing extra hardware later. This was something different for me which I explored. After finalizing the design, I started the 3D printing process and tested the holders for fit and stability.

Older designs

This was the final motor holder

I also designed a cover for the assembly. Initially, the plan was to laser cut the cover from a rigid material to protect the electronics and motors. However, later we decided to try something more creative and unique by making the cover out of fabric. This idea was to give the project a different look and feel. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we were not able to complete the fabric cover and had to postpone it for future work.

Final Assembly¶

The final assembly was a team effort where everyone worked closely together to bring all the parts and components into one complete, functioning prototype. We combined the 3D printed motor holders, motors, electronics, wiring, and other mechanical parts with great care to ensure everything fit securely and operated smoothly.

After putting everything together, we ran several tests to confirm that the motors and sensors worked correctly and that the whole system was stable and reliable. We also made small adjustments where needed to ensure smooth operation.

Future Improvements¶

Make It More Stable

Right now, the robot might shake or fall while walking. In future versions, the design can be changed to improve balance. This can be done by changing the way the legs move or adjusting the weight of the robot so it doesn’t tip over.

Add a Body Shell

Currently, the robot mostly has legs and linkages. Adding a full body shell can protect the internal parts like motors and wires. The body can also give it a cleaner and more finished look. This cover can be 3d printed or laser cut the body in the shape of a scorpion’s back.

Add a Moving Tail That Wacks

A new feature can be a moving tail that swings or “wacks” like a real scorpion. This tail can be connected to a small servo motor and controlled using code. It can move when the robot senses something nearby, adding fun interaction and making the robot feel more lifelike.

Integrating Wire Routing Channels

Adding cable guides or clips nto the chassis design. Wires can be routed through designated paths to reduce human error.