applications and implications, project development¶
Assignment¶
- Plan a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered.
Your project should incorporate:
- 2D and 3D design
- Additive and subtractive fabrication processes
- Electronics design and production
- Embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming
- System integration and packaging.
Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project. Projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of the skills, and be independently operable.
See Final Project Requirements for a complete list of requirements you must fulfil.
Project Development
- [] Prepare drafts of your final project summary slide (presentation.png, 1920x1080)
- [] video clip (presentation.mp4, 1080p HTML5, < ~minute, < ~25 MB), put them in your root directory, and check that they are linked in the final presentation schedule
Added Unexpected Bonus¶
gif-maker. Trim the clip, adjust speed, add text if you want, then download.
The Work¶
My asset files are here.
Plan a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, answering:
What will it do?¶
My project is a pill dispenser that will dispense pills to the user and also re-assure the care taker that the pill has been taken, or let the care taker know that there needs to be a care taker intervention to ensure the pill was taken.
Who's done what beforehand?¶
As mentioned in the final resources:
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[Griffin van Horne - Fab Academy 2021] (https://fabacademy.org/2021/labs/dassault/students/griffin-vanhorne/projects/final-project/) made a small handheld version with bluetooth.
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Corey M. Rice : Fab Academy 2017 made one that distributes the right amount of a whole bottle of pills.
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Lily Yeazell at MIT made the cutest pill box!!
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Loes Fab 2021 made a box with alarms.
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Miriam Choi showed me this instructables project. It is very similar in many ways to what I was thinking. They are using an arduino and an LCD. I am using an ESP32 and an app. My design is original and my version is upgraded with the purpose of caretaker notifications and interchangeable cartridges.
What sources will you use?¶
I used so many sources from so many places. I used many past Fab ACademy pages, and lots of other internet resources.
What will you design?¶
A pill dispenser that helps the taker remember to take thier pills, and helps the caregiver to know when to intervene to make sure the pill is taken.
What materials and components will be used?¶
Plywood PETG FR-1 PCB blank Molding material - Moldstar30
Electronic Components resistors capacitors wires solder connectors
ESP32C6 A4988 NEMA 8 Motor Acrylic M5, M3 Bolts photo sensor White LED
Where will the materials come from?¶
All these products can be purchased from the following locations: - internet from amazon - hardware store - craft store
How much will they cost?¶
Time to reproduce - this is pretty hard for me to estimate since it took me 20 weeks to make this. But maybe you could do it in a day if you really knew what you were doing.
I used claude to help me create a component list and price list becuase many of the things, I got in the lab.
| Component | Unit/Pack Price | Project Qty Needed | Project Cost | Purchase Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plywood (1/2" 4×8 sheet) | ~$30/sheet | 1/16 sheet | ~$1.88 | Lowe's – Plywood |
| PETG Filament (1kg spool) | ~$18/kg | ~50g | ~$0.90 | Amazon – PETG Filament |
| FR-1 PCB Blank (10-pack, 12×18") | ~$22/10-pack | 1 blank | ~$2.20 | eBay – FR-1 Copper Clad (10-pack) |
| Molding Material – MoldStar 30 (2 lb) | ~$40/2 lb | ~4 oz (1/8 kit) | ~$5.00 | Amazon – Smooth-On MoldStar 30 |
| Resistors (assortment kit, 1000 pc) | ~$9/kit | ~10 resistors | ~$0.09 | Amazon – BOJACK Resistor Kit |
| Capacitors (assortment kit) | ~$11/kit | ~6 capacitors | ~$0.07 | Amazon – Capacitor Assortment |
| Hookup Wire (spool set) | ~$10/set | ~0.5m | ~$0.25 | Amazon – Hookup Wire Kit |
| Solder – 60/40 Rosin Core (100g) | ~$8/100g | ~5g | ~$0.40 | Amazon – 60/40 Solder Wire |
| Connectors (JST / screw terminal assortment) | ~$10/kit | ~4 connectors | ~$0.50 | Amazon – JST Connector Kit |
| XIAO ESP32-C6 | ~$5.99/ea | 1 | ~$5.99 | Seeed Studio – XIAO ESP32-C6 |
| A4988 Stepper Motor Driver | ~$9.99/ 5 pack | 1 | ~$2.00 | Amazon – A4988 |
| NEMA 8 Stepper Motor | ~$18/ea | 1 | ~$18.00 | StepperOnline – NEMA 8 |
| Acrylic Sheet (12×12", 1/8" thick) | ~$12/sheet | 1/10 sheet | ~$1.20 | Amazon – Clear Acrylic Sheet |
| M3/M4/M5 Bolt & Nut Assortment (460 pc) | ~$15/kit | 3 fasteners | ~$0.15 | Amazon – Hilitchi Bolt Kit |
| 5V buck regulator | $8.99/5pack | 1 | $1.80 | |
| Photo Sensor (IR/phototransistor module) | ~$9/ea | 1 | ~$9.00 | Amazon – IR Photo Sensor Module |
| White LED (100 pc, 5mm) | ~$8/100-pack | 1 LED | ~$0.08 | Amazon – CHANZON 100pc White LED |
| Project Total | ~$49.51 |
This is an estimated cost .. So much depends on what you use and where you get it. Example, polulu A4988 at digikey is $10.21 or you can get a 5 pack of knock offs at amazon for $9.99.
What parts and systems will be made?¶
Subsystems are
- The pill cartridge
- The body and shell including the integrated LED and PhotoSensor
- The pill catcher
- The PCB & compponents
- The PCB holder and structure
- The motor and motor mount.
What processes will be used?¶
Laser Cutting - Lid CNC - Base 3D printing - board holder & bodies Electronics Production - board and guts Networking - machine and phone and telegram Application Creation - Web Interface Molding & Casting - pill catcher
What questions need to be answered?¶
- Are people not taking thier pills?
- Are caregivers worried?
How will it be evaluated?¶
The sucess of this machine is how often the pills are taken and if the stress levels of the pill taker and the caregiver are lowered by having both a reminder to take the pills and instant knowledge that the pills have been taken.