19. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Index

• Assignment
• Question & Answer
• Summary

A. Assignment

Answer the following questions
• what is the deadline? How much time do I have left?.
• what tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain?
• how will I complete the remaining tasks in time?
• what has worked?
• what hasn't?
• what questions still need to be resolved?
• what have you learned?

b. What is the deadline? How much time do I have left?.

My plan is to do the development in a helical develop pattern. According to the plan, the first version of the machine will be able to cut foam sheets with simple 2d shapes. In the second version i will include the lathe feature. In the third i will be making the remote controller and detach the machine from the computer making it stand alone.
I have completed version 1 of the machine and is working on the v2, which includes the rotary axis.

c. What tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain?

I am done with the machine parts, i need to give it a better look and i need to make the remote controller. I just have a basic hand drawing of my remote controller, i need to make the cad, 3d print it and then put the acrylic cut buttons and display covering.
The machine control i have made now is pretty simple. I manually generate the motion code for a shape, this code is executed by the machine, i plan to change this. I want the machine to take gcode

d. how will I complete the remaining tasks in time?

As i have little time left having a solid work plan and sticking onto that is the key to complete the remaining part of the work. I am planning to complete all my works 2 days before the final presentation. I was plannig to cut the logo for my machine in vinyl but due to lack of time i need to dump the idea.

f. What has worked

Though it took a lot of time and effort to figure out, the most important part of the machine, ie synchronized motion of the steppers has been successfully implemented and it works pretty well.

g. What have'nt?

I make a mosfet based power controlling board to turn on and off power for the stepper and the heating wire. This board is showing anonymous behaviour, ie it always keeps the mosfet ON.

h. what questions still need to be resolved?

I need to find the right speed and current needed in the wire to bring in perfect cuts with the foam cutter. I have been trying different settings and need to work more on that.

i. what have you learned?

I have learned the details of stepper controlling for CNC making. I have learned to program the CNC steppers in bare C programming language, making a machine from parts digitally fabricating most of its parts.

m. Summary

• Answered all questions regarding the development of the final project.

Link to final project documentation

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