12. Mechanical Design, Machine Design¶
This week I am tasked with being the person who is doing the documentation in our group. My job was to document the design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing of the sorting machine.
The project aimed to create an automated sorting system using an ESP32-S3 camera, a stepper motor, a servo motor, and custom mechanical components. An object is placed on a rotating platform, the platform rotatates into position by a stepper motor, then the camera captures an image. The image is then processed by the software, and based on the detection result, a servo motor moves an arm that pushes the object off the platform into the correct location.
Responsibilities¶
The work is divided among the three of us. Omid is responsible for the mechanical design and created the 3D models for the machine, camera holder, servo mount, and stepper motor mount. Dinesh developed the software, including the camera setup, object detection logic, and motor control. My role is to document the complete development process and record the results.
The machine¶
The mechanical structure is manufactured using a combination of 3D printing and laser cutting. The camera holder is positioned above the rotating platform, while the stepper motor is mounted below the platform so that the platform can rotatate. A servo motor is on the side of the machine and connected to a sorting arm that pushes the detected objects off the platform. After printing and assembling the parts, the electronics, custom PCB, and motor driver were installed.
The final machine successfully had the integration of mechanical design, electronics, and software into a sorting system. During testing, we observed that lighting conditions affected detection performance, suggesting that controlled illumination would improve reliability in future versions. Additional improvements could include multiple sorting bins, increased structural stability, and an automatic feeding mechanism.
I also made the first version of the platform that we decided to scrap later on. Still here it is
Final machine photos and files¶
The inside the green circle is our holder for the camera.
In the red hole we have our stepper motor for turning the circular disk on it.
Then the blue hole is for our servo which has the arm that pushes the blocks off of the stand.
So those are the models that we created then lets move on to printing it out.
So then we add one servo into the space
Now we add a stepper motor.
Then we add the wheel that we cut with the lazer cutter.
Putting the chip in place.
We did good as a group and especially both of the guys on my team