Final Project #
Ideation of Zenbience #
Coming up with a final project idea was a hard process. Knowing myself, I knew that I wanted to create some kind of a desk object. My first ideas included making a kinetic sculpture. However, that idea did not satisfy me enough to hold on to it.
I realized that I needed to personalize my idea in order to be satisfied with it.
For years, I have had struggles concentrating while studying or working on projects. If I am not in my hyperfocus mode, even the tiniest sounds will distract me from what I am doing (not even talking about the loud ones). What I discovered as a solution was having virtual ambiences or opening up ambience videos on Youtube to help me get in the zone.
Some examples that I have tried and found useful in the past:
- Hogwarts Library Ambience
- Cozy Scottish Castle Fireplace Ambience
- Thunderstorm in the Library Ambience
- A Soft Murmur ambient sound mixer
Inspired from these examples, I decided to make a desktop device that:
- keeps you focused and calm 🌿🧘🏻♀️
- keeps the ambience disconnected from the screen ✍🏼
- is pretty to look at 🥰
Below, I present to you the first sketch of Zenbience. The device lets the user layer a number of ambient sounds on top of each other, creating the perfect ambience for their study or meditation (or whatever that demands focus).
- Making adjustable sound levels for each ambient sound
- Adding LEDs for improved ambience
- Adding a motor for improved ambience
In short, Zenbience is a miniature ambience scene that lets users shape their environment through sound, supporting a focused state of mind.
v1.0 #
Computer Aided Design #
For 3D design, I wanted to use the tool I am most familiar with but not very pro at.
v2.0 #
Sketches #
3D Design #
Embedded Design #
PCB Design #
BOM List: #
- M4 threaded insert for wood
- 4 M4 bolts
- 8 M3 bolts
- 4 M2 bolts
- Neopixel Ring 16
- DFPlayer Mini (DFR0299)
- SD Card
- Seeed XIAO ESP32-C3
- 8-Ohm 0.5 Watt Speaker
- PLA Filament
- Translucent Filament
- Copper board for PCB
- Jumper Cables
- 4 brass inserts M3
Midterm Review: #
So far, I have completed the ideation and the embedded system design. All of my components work. I have designed my PCB on KiCad and produced my microcontroller board. I also tested with the components soldered on my board.
What I have left are as follows:
- Finishing the Computer Aided Design
- Doing some tests with the laser cutter to figure out the best materials (wood vs. kraft paper), kerf, and joints
- Interface
- System integration
- Printing my 3D figures
Right now, as I am typing this, it is May28th. My presentation is on June 10th. My schedule will be as follows:
May 28th: Do laser cutting tests and finish up CAD
May 29th: Finish up CAD and interface
May 30th: Interface + CNC weekly assignment
June 1st: Manufacturing parts and system integration
June 2nd: Manufacturing parts and system integration
June 3rd: Finish up weekly documentation
June 4th-8th: System integration, tests, video and presentation
Laser Cut Enclosure #
Created a Kerf Test file that cuts 10 10mmX10mm squares. When measured with a digital caliper, it should ideally give me 100mm, but instead it read 98,86. This means that there is a loss of 1,14mm in the material. I divide it by 10 (since 10 squares) and I get 0,114mm. This is the kerf. I will divide this by 2 to use in my designs, which give me a value of 0,057.
For living hinge part of the enclosure, I calculated the half of the circumference of the 60mm diameter circle by calculating (pi * r), where pi is 3,14 and r is 60mm. The result gives me 188,5mm. I add 10mm on each side to make sure the joints on the base are covered. The overall length for the living hinge becomes 208,5mm. The design becomes like this:
