17. Applications and Implications, Project Development


💧 Blending my knowledge

The final project consists of a Cartesian machine capable of dispensing corrosive liquids, such as thinner, that can dissolve materials like polystyrene to create a subtractive fabrication technique with artistic finishes.

Imagen

💧 Works & Schedule

The following diagram demonstrates the knowledge applied at each stage of the project's conception, fabrication, and programming process.

Imagen

💧 Project questions

What will it do?

It is a portable Cartesian device designed to eject various liquids with the intention of becoming a subtractive manufacturing method that does not rely on force, but rather uses chemical reaction as the agent for material removal.


Who has done what beforehand?

The closest precedents of a portable CNC can probably be found in the Shaper Origin, a wood machining tool that, through a camera and screen, can guide the cutting path. However, there is no version that combines these properties of automation or assisted material subtraction with the ejection systems found in bioprinters. This is where the advantage of 'the Machine that Cries' comes into play.


What will you design?

"I will design a lightweight and portable casing for a transmission system based on smooth rods and belts, which enables the movement of a head coordinated by two stepper motors. Using a servo motor in a remote ejection system, it allows the liquid to be dispensed onto the surface.


What materials and components will be used?

I will use two Step Motor Drivers, two NEMA 17 stepper motors, an SG-20 servo motor, a Seeed XIAO, a 12V 10A power supply, a voltage regulator and four capacitors, along with a system of belts and smooth rods.


Where will they come from?

The Seeed XIAO microcontroller and some components, such as the fiberglass PCB base and pin headers, are part of the equipment provided by the university. The rest of the components were purchased privately.


How much will they cost?

Approximately $75 was spent on electronics, another $40 on mechanical parts, and around $25 on the fabrication of components, resulting in a total investment of $140.


What parts and systems will be made?

The containers for electronic components, such as the printer case (which will be 3D printed) and the power supply enclosure (CNC machined), will be fabricated. Likewise, the machined plate that organizes the stepper motor drivers will also be manufactured by me.


What processes will be used?

Digital fabrication methods will be used, such as 3D printing, CNC machining in acrylic, and CNC machining for the fiberglass plate used in the electronics.


What questions need to be answered?

Extensive research must be conducted on the material aspect. The interaction between thinner and polystyrene is highly toxic and potentially polluting. While the mechanism is clever and highly expressive, it would be ideal to replace it with organic materials such as formic acid or similar substances applied to naturally sourced materials.


How will it be evaluated?

It is necessary to evaluate the coherence between the proposed subtractive manufacturing method and portability. Iterations can be made to improve performance.


What tasks have been completed?

The electronics and manufacturing parts are already completed; only the programming and testing stages remain


What has worked? What hasn't?

All the fabrication work (physical, tangible, so to speak) has been completed, but the programming part has only remained in the research phase, looking for a G-code firmware suitable for the memory space of the Seeed XIAO.


What questions need to be resolved?

It is urgently necessary to determine which firmware is the most suitable. From what has been read so far, Tiny-G will be chosen; however, learning to coordinate servomotors with stepper motors for the project is still pending.


What will happen when?

The project can be completed in its first iteration and open the field for experimentation with other automation methods for this subtractive manufacturing system.


What have you learned?

his exercise has been very helpful for sharpening my knowledge of 3D modeling oriented toward mechanical systems. Additionally, I have learned a lot about the functioning of microcontrollers, from their design to their electrical operation. Finally, I have been exposed to less typical manufacturing methods which, although not used in this exercise, remain as possibilities for future iterations.


💧 PCB BOM

Imagen