Final Project
Overview
I already knew what I was interested in making for my final project before Fab Academy 2025 began. It's an idea that has the potential to, at best, change the world, at the least, be a gimmicky product you see on Temu.
A toilet seat that lifts itself and puts itself back down. But, why?
Over countless dinners I have explained to friend and foe alike about how I believe we can change the world through the reduction of small scale inefficiencies. If we reduce tiny (fricticious) issues in our lives, at scale, we can begin to heal the world (one bathroom at a time).
Since the advent of toilets, man and woman have battled one another, both internally, and externally. Men cannot aim, women have to sit, we share the toilet, but men must lift the seat AND put it down. A cruel world we live in, indeed.
If I am to be both a proper gentleman and a germaphobe, then I will do it my way.
My proposed solution:
The Shit Flip aka Die Pisbrug
insert photos of original prototype failures — highlighting my need for fablab
Brainstorming
Toilet seat lifter
What kind of motors / hinges / levers I could use?
After some initial research, I decided to look up linear actuators. My linear actuator idea would probably need a base that sits on the ground.
I like the idea of the linear actuator because it would minimize contact with the inside of the toilet, but it would also make the final design bulkier.
Here's an idea of a manual toilet seat lifter that the linear actuator motor could replicate.
This is a sketch for a rotating joint.
The sketch below is an idea I had that doesn't have a based on the ground. However, it will be a struggle to clamp the piece on to the toilet without having to hook into the inside of the toilet bowl.
In order to help lift the toilet seat, a counterweight could be handy.
Linear actuator resources:
- Linear actuator kit
- (Actuator) elevator gear
- Lead screw actuator
Motion sensor
I plan to make a 3D printed part that will house the sensor and can communicate with the toilet bowl lifter. It will attach to the under side of the toilet bowl with a suction cup.
This is an idea that I think would more likely sit in Spiral two.
Gravity
Henk was very early to point out that I must consider gravity. All further design considerations take that into account.
To address that, I studied up a bit on motors and torque as I want to better understand the dynamics behind how we get objects to move.
Here are some useful resources around motor types, gear ratios, and torque.
Design
I familiarized myself with the types of mechanics and components I might use for my project and eventually I had an idea that seemed promising.
My plan was to:
- Use the space between the seat an the wall for the base of my device
- For stability and positioning, make use of the two bolts that hold (most) toilet seats to the bowl
- A stepper motor (or two) for the lifting of the lid
Combining all of those points with a mechanism like this draw bridge that I saw on YouTube. I hope to use the rotation power of a stepper motor to wind up cables that are attached to either side of a toilet seat.
NB. Rotation driven draw bridge
99% of toilets that have seats are held in place by two bolts. There is a space between the seat and the toilet that I hope to utilize to lock the base of my design in place.
As I plan on pulling the toilet seat up by cables, the motor will be pulled forward. The bolt slots hope to counteract that.
Midterm work plan
I have now been introduced to most of the theory that I will need in order to design my final project. It's now about compiling what I've learned and putting it towards making Die Pisbrug.
My plan is as follows:
(one) Test stepper motor strength
- Lasercut / woodwork a base that can hold a stepper motor
- Test how much weight a stepper motor can pull up
I will attach a string to the stepper motor and have it a) pull objects across a table and b) pull weights up a pulley system.
The results of these tests will help me figure out if I need two stepper motors and how much power I will need, or if I need go a different route entirely.
(two) Design
It's important that I turn my notebook sketches into 3D models so that I can use the lab's tools to make prototypes.
These are some areas of the design for the final project that I need to figure out:
- How to attach string to stepper motor?
- Nut and string holder
- Outer wings to thread cables through?
- Non-slip mat
- Toilet clamps
(three) Material decisions + production
- Power and control
- Sensors (spiral two)
- Communication protocol?
- What material will the base / clamp / cables be?
Integrating Fab learning
Computer Aided Design
In Computer Aided Design week I learned how to use CAD softwares to make digital designs. In that week I followed a tutorial to make a toilet in Fusion. The skills from that week are essential for the creation of the toilet seat lifter I'm planning.
Computer controlled machining
3D printing
Input devices
Sensor work
Output devices
Servo turning
Extra questions
- What to do about soft close hinges…?
- Detecting men vs women?
- Toilet seat lifting quick enough so that it isn't irritating to wait for
- Closing toilet seat quick enough before flush (for those who don't like toilet spray)
Who's done what (already)?
- Toilet seat lifter project - Kochi
- Toilet rolls (I like the idea of magnets, somehow)
- Household hacker -- string lift
- A toilet seat that always stays up + their YouTube
- Self lifting toilet seat (entire seat)
- Spring-Mounted vertically Held Toilet Seat
And my personal favorite:
- Flush seat goes down
- And this is their website
What didn't work?
What worked? What didn't?
Bill of Materials (BOM)
What materials and components were used? // Where did they come from? // How much did they cost?
| Materials | Sources | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| fishing tackle | Gamma | XXX |
| NEMA 17 | XXX | XXX |
| ESP 32 | TinyTronics.nl | XXX |
| XXX | XXX | XXX |
| XXX | XXX | XXX |
| XXX | XXX | XXX |