Greetings, here lies my work-log at

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applications and implications

index

• ../ back to homepage
• Project description and predecessors
• Materials/components and their costing
• Parts and systems / Spirals of development
• Processes used
• Task list
• Decision tree
• Schedule
• self imposed evaluation criaterion

Assignment goals

• Define the scope of a project
• Develop a project plan

Project description and predecessors

What will it do?

• Be a bin to collect wet compostable waste
• Gather data on variables like temperature, methane levels, moisture level during the decomposition process FOR SCIENCE
• Agitate the compost regularly by mixing the contents of the bin

What was done before?

• The design of the frame and the bin was done from scratch
• The 3d printed coupler was also designed from scratch
• PCB design for motor driver was done from scratch in KICAD, i did not find any example using an n-mosfet to control a motor in the archives . The code used is a modification of the 'Example blink sketch' in the Arduino IDE
• PCB design for sensor board was also done from scratch, it is very simple. The code uses a simple analog.read to read the values, found in the 'Arduino IDE'
• Considering, a compost bin as a whole , there are commercial ones which are closed source designs, I did not take any cues from them.

Materials/components and their costing

what materials and components will be required?

where will they come from?

how much will it cost?

Total Cost in INR ~ 3785
Total Cost in USD ~ 58

what parts and systems will be made?

• Compost bin - the container
• Frame - Plywood frame to prop up the bin and allow it to rotate like a concrete mixer
• Motor and driver - to rotate the bin
• Sensor system - Temperature, moisture level and gas sensors to monitor decomposition process

what processes will be used?

• CAD designing for the complete assembly
• 2D CNC milling to make the frame for the bin
• 3D CNC-milling for making the mould to make the composite bin
• Electronics production - To make the fabduino for the sensor inputs and another PCB to drive the motor
• Input and Output devices - Sensor inputs and motor output
• 3D printing for PCB cases
• Laser cutting - for cutting jute fabric to use in composite jute-resin bin

what tasks need to be completed?

• Procuring all components and stock material - Done
• Design and the frame
• Make the mold for the bin
• Make the jute-resin bin
• Make a fabduino/fabkit
• Program the fabduino to collect data from sensors
• Program an interface to read the sensor data
• Make the PCB to drive the motor

what questions need to be answered?

• If the gas detector sensor data can be used to estimate the relative concentrations of gas being detected
• How frequently does the compost need to be agitated for best results

What is your schedule?

Schedule as of week17

UPdated schedule hosted on Google calendar - scroll left to see relevant info

how will it be evaluated? Self-imposed criateria for success/failure

• The bin successfully rotates and agitates the compost
• The system succesfully gathers atleast one data variable using an input sensor - temperature / moisture level/ gas detection

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