FAB ACADEMY 2017

Applications and Implication. The bases of my final project.

Assignment

Propose a final project that integrates the range of units covered, answering:

  • what will it do?
  • who's done what beforehand?
  • what materials and components will be required?
  • where will they come from?
  • how much will it cost?
  • what parts and systems will be made?
  • what processes will be used?
  • what tasks need to be completed?
  • what questions need to be answered?
  • what is the schedule?
  • how will it be evaluated?
  • -projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of the range of skills covered-
  • -where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project-

WHAT WILL IT DO?

REC Kids in intended to help kids identify the different recyclable materials by a simple touch. It is design as a easy and simple way to identify a range common materials kids can find at home that are suitable for recycling processes. It is compose of 4 modules:

  • (1) An activator (input by two sources: metal or light detection)
  • (2) One output (LED) which indicates the kid what type of recycle material is it and when battery has to be charge.
  • (3) One resistance that controls the output behavior (brightness of the LED fixed).

WHO'S DONE WHAT BEFOREHAND?

I Have some references that helped me develop the idea:

DESIGN AND SIMPLICITY: BACK TO BASICS

  • The Secret garden tool kit- Ismael Velo
  • The FrankensToy –Alejandra Diaz de Leon
  • The Holdable Heart – Jasmin Cheng
  • Misc.Toys – Ismael Velo

ELECTRONICS

  • Little Bits
  • Drawdio – Instructables.com
  • Cubelets
  • Atoms Express Toys

WHAT MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS WILL BE REQUIRED?

TIP:First define scale, then you can start searching materials:

DESIGN AND MAKING

  • PLA Filament
  • 3mm Transparent Acrylic Sheet (8x8cm)

ELECTRONICS

  • ATtiny 85
  • 10k Resistors
  • 499 Resistors
  • 1 RGB LED
  • Cooper Board
  • Soldiery Wire
  • 1 Reflective Sensor
  • 1 Coil Detector
  • 1 Rechargeable Battery 3.7volts (Litum)

WHERE WILL THEY COME FROM?

Local Vendor SANTIAGO DE CHILE (MCI/Olimex) Global Vendor that had to be order 1 month before (Sparkfun):

DESIGN AND MAKING

  • PLA Filament (MCI/Olimex)
  • 3mm Transparent Acylic Sheet (8x8cm) (Stock in the lab)

ELECTRONICS

  • ELECTRONICS
  • ATtiny 85 (MCI/Olimex)
  • 10k Resistors (MCI/Olimex)
  • 499 Resistors (MCI/Olimex)
  • 1 RGB LED (Sparkfun)
  • Cooper Board (MCI/Olimex)
  • Soldiery Wire (MCI/Olimex)
  • 1 Reflective Sensor (MCI/Olimex)
  • 1 Coil Detector (MCI/Olimex)
  • 1 Bottom (Stock in the lab)

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Local Vendor SANTIAGO DE CHILE (MCI/Olimex) Global Vendor that had to be order 1 month before (Sparkfun) ($ USD):

DESIGN AND MAKING

  • PLA Filament (MCI/Olimex) 1/4 use $5.00
  • 3mm Transparent Acylic Sheet (8x8cm) (Stock in the lab) $1.00

ELECTRONICS

  • ELECTRONICS
  • ATtiny 85 (MCI/Olimex) $2.05
  • 10k Resistors (MCI/Olimex) $0.95
  • 499 Resistors (MCI/Olimex) $0.85
  • 1 RGB LED (Sparkfun) $0.95
  • Cooper Board (MCI/Olimex) $1.00
  • Soldiery Wire (MCI/Olimex) $1.00
  • 1 Reflective Sensor (MCI/Olimex) $3.00
  • 1 Coil Detector (MCI/Olimex) $2.00
  • 1 Buttom (Stock in the lab) $1.00
  • TOTAL COST: $18.8 USD approx.

WHAT PARTS AND SYSTEMS WILL BE MADE?

The model is composed of the following parts:

BODY

  • 3D modeling (CAD)
  • Laser Cutting
  • 3D printing

BRAIN

  • Electronic Design
  • Electronic Production
  • Embedded Programming
  • Inputs
  • Output

WHAT PROCESSES WILL BE USED?

Task learned in the Fab Academy classes:

  • 3D Designing and modeling (Fusion 360): Design the shape, assembling the system and a way of keeping the electronics together.
  • Laser-cutting: The exterior face of the components, where the output (Light) can be seen through the transparent and engrave acrylic.
  • 3D printing: The body will be 3D printed.
  • Electronic Design: One board, with a ATtiny 85
  • Electronic Production: Fabrication of the design.
  • Embedded Programming: Using the Arduino IDE
  • Inputs: 15 Different material Library
  • Output: Light

WHAT TASKS NEED TO BE COMPLETED?

In the following linK FINAL PROJECT TASK you can find the list of task and updates of each one.

WHAT QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED?

TFrom the Design aspect I have no worries since I have a very clear idea of how it is going to work. The question I will have to face when making are related to Electronic Design and Programming, here are some:

  • How to identify different materials?
  • What materials does the module to identify?
  • What are the most common materials children can recycle form home?
  • Do I need a sample of the material or can the measurement be done in the raw stage of the material?
  • How to differentiate between different materials?
  • Is the conductivity of the materials enough to differentiate among materials?
  • What about reflectivity of the materials?
  • How many materials can be differentiate by it reflectiveness?
  • What properties of the material will be measure in the module?
  • Do I need special equipment to identify and create a library of materials?
  • How many materials will the module detect?
  • How to detect metal?
  • How to detect plastic?
  • How to detect glass?
  • How to detect paper?
  • How to detect organic materials?

WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE?

Week 01 (May 25-27)
Thursday - Define Scale of project
Friday – Create material Library and 3D model
Saturday – Electronic Design

Week 02 (May 29-31)
Monday – Electronic Production and Programming
Tuesday – 3D Printing and Laser Cutting
Wednesday - Resolve Design Aspects based on Electronics

Week 03 and 04 (June 5-15)
Monday – Resolve Design Aspects based on Electronics
Tuesday – Play with the module and document functionality
Wednesday - Video Making
Monday – Prepare final presentation
Tuesday – Have everything up in the web
Wednesday – Finalize final project

HOW WILL IT BE EVALUATED?

THE GOAL: to have it working that at least identifies 2 different materials (metal and plastic)


I had no idea about electronics neither programming when I started Fab Academy 2017. I consider that by this moment my skills have improved and that hopefully REC for kids is a demonstration of my understanding of the whole curse since it integrates different aspects of digital fabrication in a simple and fun way. I'm getting there, on my way of How to make almost everything!

Was I able to respect the plan?

Not really, time was against me... but after FAB Academy is over, my plan is to keep on working on the plan!

Download Files here:
Final Project Tasks