Mechanical Design, Machine Design

This week we were tasked with only group work. Working as a group, we needed to design a machine that includes mechanism, actuation, automation, and application. We also need to build the mechanical parts and operate the machine manually and automatically.

My group actually started brainstorming ideas for machine week starting back in week 1 of Fab Academy. Everyone we spoke to warned us this was the hardest week and the sooner we started, the better off we would be. For an in depth look at my groups machine, see my labs home page.

Week 12

Check List

This week's project requirements:

Group Assignment:

Design a machine that includes mechanism + actuation + automation + application
Build the mechanical parts and operate it manually
Actuate and automate your machine
Document your work on the group work page

Individual Assignment:
Document your individual contribution

Resources and Helpful Links

I would like to dedicate this space this week to my amazing group mates:
Camille
Dorian
Kim
Without these amazing ladies, our individual skills and knowledge, and our fantastic collaboration skills, this project wouldn't exist.
Thank you!!

Learning Outcomes

Work and communicate effectively as a team
Design, plan and build a machine
Analyse and solve technical problems
Recognise opportunities for improvements in the design

Introduction

Our group started brainstorming ideas for machine week during week 1 of Fab Academy. We started a collaborative Google Doc which we have since used for every weeks group project. We add in notes, resources, links, images, and our write ups as we go for all of our group projects. Our document for Machine week alone is 24 pages long!

Tilty Feet was NOT a last minute project by a long shot!

My Contributions

To get us started on my contributions, I will them all out. I will expand with my thoughts and reflections in the next section.

3D printed about 85-90% of all of our parts
Created early models of our project idea in Blender to use as reference models
Collaborated with Dorian on pen holder modifications - designed a possible multi pen holder but we decided to go with a single pen option
Collaborated with Dorian, Camille, and Kim on titly feet planning
General Project research
Set up the Inkscape extension and worked on the process to send a file from inkscape to UGS
Set up some simple shapes in Inkscape to use as test gcode files
Collaborated with Dorian on a cookie holder design
Designed and printed two different cookie holder designs - although we decided to use the simpler magnet option since it was more universal for shapes and sizes
Created feet stoppers to prevent Tilty from moving side to side
Tested the reed switch circuit for turning on and off the fan
Explained how to use the reed switch so we can make our edible glitter more magical - Camille integrated the reed switch circuit into Tilty
Collaborated on the spare pen holder design - Dorian made the actual design
Collaborated with Dorian, Kim, and Camille to take care of wire management and clean up Titly for presentations
Collaborated and troubleshooted getting Tilty’s motors up and running after wire management
Edited and assembled the presentation video