Week 17

Applications and Implications

Assignment

  1. Propose a final project that integrates the units covered.
  2. Answer the Questionnaire about your project.

Final project

The name of my final project is “Didactic Crystallography Model”. All the details of the final project, including the idea and the tracking of it so far is documented in the final project page.


Questionnarie about the project


  1. What will it do?

    It will facilitate the understanding crystal structures. A crystal structure is a three-dimensional arrangement of atoms, ions or molecules. These are ordered structures that occur due to the nature of the atoms or ions to form a repetitive symmetric pattern. In my case, in the subject of crystallographic is always challenging to explain how atoms or ions can form a unit cell that replicate it through a 3D space to form the macrostructure of a crystalline material. That’s why is always necessary to use teaching aids. My project is designed to be a didactic help the teaching of this topic.
    The idea of the model is a RGB LED cube of 5 x 5 x 5, the operation will be through an android app which will be used to select the crystal structure needed and the cube will respond turning on the LEDs that correspond to the coordinates of the crystal structures.

  2. who's done what beforehand?

    There are many LED cubes done, but all of them are used for decoration or entertainment purpose, none of them have been programmed to be use as a teaching aid. Also, there are many crystallographic models but all of them only show one structure, or is made of pieces that need assembly and disassembly to show another 3D structure.

  3. what materials and components will be required?
    where will they come from?
    how much will it cost?

    4. Next table shows the bill of materials and their cost.

    Material or component Cost Supplier
    Mexican Pesos US Dollar (1USD ≈ 18 MXN )
    Acrylic sheet 3 mm (1.2 x 0.6 m) $ 360 USD 20 Acrylplast Querétaro
    Acrylic rod 6mm diam. (1.80 m) $26.5 USD 1.47 Acrylplast Querétaro
    Clear RGB LED common anode
    200 pieces     		$323 USD 17.92 Amazon USA (link)
    LED Driver MAX7219, 2 pieces
    (Through-hole)     		$181.6 USD 10.09 Intelingencia artificial Querétaro
    Copper wire Caliber 22
    (10 m)     		$25 1.40 Electrónica AMMA Querétaro
    Electrical wire Caliber wire (10 m) $ 25 USD 1.40 Electrónica AMMA Querétaro
    Solder (100 gr) $130 USD 7.22 Steren
    Total $ 1071.1 USD 59.50

  4. what parts and systems will be made?

    For the test of programming an Arduino uno is going to be use, however for the control of the LEDs (125 x 3) is necessary to build a multiplexing circuit with two LED driver (MAX7219) and ten transistors (PN2222A). This circuit is going to be designed and made in through-hole for testing and optimization. After that a PCB with SMT components will be made.


  5. what processes will be used?

    CAD, Laser cut, 3D print, electronics design, embedded programming, interface programming and networking and communication.


  6. what tasks need to be completed?

    Assembly of the LED cube and programming.


  7. what questions need to be answered?
    1. How is the control of so many LEDs is going to be made?
    2. Will be helpful and accomplish your purpose?
    3. Are the teachers willing to use it?

  8. what is the schedule?

    The idea is to have a full-working prototype by the final presentation sessions, after that think in improvements and PCB productions for a final product


  9. how will it be evaluated?

    Must work and look attractive and the design intention must be visible and easy to understand.