Final Project

[Place holder for Final Project Slide and Video]

Week 01

For this first week I sketched out what I envisioned for my final project. At this point, given that it is still in the early stages of Fab Academy, the idea is purely aesthetic. I have not figured out things such as the dimensions, mechanisms and the electronic components required. I have some idea how this project could be accomplished but I will need to learn some (missing) core skills to make this project a reality.

Week 02

This week I modelled my battering ram alarm clock in both 3Ds Max and Fusion 360. By attempting to rig the ramming mechanism in 3Ds Max, I have a good idea of how the ramming mechanism should work mechanically.

Week 03

This week's topic was computer controlled cutting and for the individual assignment, I made a pressfit construction kit. Looking back at my own Final Project idea, I wondered if the body of the battering ram alarm clock could be made of something other than wood. Hence, I attempted to use my pressfit construction kit to build a battering ram and here is the result.

The possibility of creating a body out of transparent acrylic is certainly an interesting aesthetic choice. Right now, I doubt I will go in that direction and will still stick with a wooden body. However, I think some of the laser cutting techniques I learnt today can still be applied for things such as casings for electronic components.

I realized that while I continue to explore the form of the project, I cannot neglect thinking about the internal components. As such, I purchased a wooden clock that has a similar effect to what I would like to achieve to study.

I also searched for similar projects to look at. Here is a project from Instructables for a wooden clock which was useful in helping me to understand how to create a clock that is similar to the one I bought. I probably need to think more about some aspects of the clock such as:

- What are the parts, materials and components needed?

- How should it be constructed?

- Should it have buttons? What do those buttons control? What are the functions?

- What will spiral development look like for this project?

All these to come in the weeks ahead!

Week 04

This week’s topic is about embedded programming, and it introduced me to the different types of microcontrollers I could use. Right now, I think I would like to use the RP2040 as the microcontroller for my project, with the ESP32 in consideration if connectivity is required. I also started thinking about spiral development for this project in terms of the functions and what I want to accomplish for this project.

	LEVEL 1 Passable	LEVEL 2 Average	LEVEL 3 Very Good	LEVEL 4 Excellent
Description	Passable. Fulfills all the assessment requirements (just barely).	Decent. Not sloppy but not “wow” either.	Looks good. Some “wow”. It isn’t perfect but only minor issues remain.	Ideal and aspirational state. This is the best I can do with current skills and knowledge. Something that I would be proud to make and keep for a long time.
Form/Body	Just a shell/structure to hold everything together.	Simple structure but with some minor design touches.	Purposefully designed body with an intuitive user interface that considers: • Maintenance (e.g. Battery change) • Reconfiguration	Purposefully designed body with an intuitive user interface that considers: • Maintenance (e.g. Battery change) • Reconfiguration • Carrying the object around to be deployed differently
Aesthetics	Just basic forms “raw” look	Simple but well finished	Exhibitable showpiece quality	Looks like something you can buy commercially
Interface	• Minimal - push buttons to set the time/alarm.	• Push buttons to set the time/ alarm. • Ram test button	• Push buttons to set the time/ alarm. • Ram test button • Alarm test button • Removable top for ease of maintenance • Modular top so that the clock can be viewed from other angles	• Push buttons to set the time/ alarm. • Ram test button • Alarm test button • Removable top for ease of maintenance • Modular top so that the clock can be viewed from other angles • Remote or app control (e.g. Doorbell function)
Power source	Plug in (USB)	Plug in (USB) + Battery	Plug in (USB) + Battery	Plug in (USB) + Battery Additional power source for rem
Clock	Simply tells the time	Tells Date and Time	Tells Date and Time + 1 other useful reading (e.g. Light level, temperature, battery level)	Tells Date and Time + Full suite of useful readings (e.g. Light level, temperature, battery level) Sync to internet clock
Alarm	Basic: 1. Something to set alarm 2. Something to alert users (e.g. sound speakers) 3. Something to turn off alarm	Basic features only	Basic features + customizable sound/music for alarm	Basic features + customizable sound/music for alarm + radio
Moving Ram	Simple striking mechanism. Just a rod.	Simple striking mechanism. Just a rod.	Variable speed control for ram (manual control)	Variable speed control for ram (manual control) + Sync ramming motion with audio
Connectivity to other devices	None	None	None	App or remote for additional function