Week09: Mechanical Design

Assignment

Group Assignment

design a machine (mechanism+automation), including the end effector
build the passive parts and operate it manually
document the group project and your individual contribution

Design

Pantograph enlarge plotter

Group Work

Test How MTMs work.

Getting Started With Gestalt Nodes
A tested example using 3 nodes
Gestalt documentation, from the code
wxGestalt: a wxPython IDE for configuring Gestalt machines

Fabnet
My Lab already has Fabnet, so I used it in this assignment. If not, I need to make it as follows here.

Gestalt Node
Gestalt Node in my lab is used in FabAcandmy last year, so program is done already. If not, program it as follow here.

Connect Parts
Connecting boards and motors are like this image.

To connect Fabnet and Gestalt Node, ensure the pinheaders.

Test 1: Run single_node.py
Download form http://github.com/nadya/pygestalt.

$ cd Desktop/pygestalt-master/
$ sudo python ./setup.py install

Get information about usbserial

$ ls /dev/tty.usb*
/dev/tty.usbserial-FTXW9Z5W

Open "single_node.py".

$ cd examples/machines/htmaa
$ nano single_node.py

Change portName to my usbserial.

Remove "test.vmp" when each time connected structure of gestalt node is changed.

$ rm test.vmp

Run"signle_node.py"

$ python single_node.py

When message below is appeared, press button on gestalt node to identify the board of X Axis.

X Axis: please identify me on the network.

Motor moves as written in "single_node.py" This number's unit seems [mm].

Test 2: Run xy_plotter.py
Connect second Gestalt node.


Output(1st)	Input(2nd)

Open "xy_plotter.py" and change usbserial.

Remove "test.vmp" and run "xy_plotter.py"

$ rm test.vmp
$ python xy_plotter.py

When asked to identify Axis press button on each board.

X Axis: please identify me on the network.
Y Axis: please identify me on the network.

Motor moves as written in "xy_plotter.py"

Individual Work

Gestalt frame

Cardboard we have is not 0.15" thick, so I download Rhinoceros and Grasshopper data from [m]MTM in order to adjust the data.

Rhinoceros 5.4 WIP on macOS

I could not open Grasshopper on mac.

Rhinoceros 5 on Windows

Our cardboard is 3 mm thick, which is 0.11811 inch.

I put this number to "Material Thickness". Then adjusted parts is appeared on Rhino.

After "Bake" FRAME, PLATFORM and SUPPORTS, Parts can be selected. It can be exported to .ai file.

Export and adjust lines in CorelDRAW. I separated in 600 x 300, which is Laser cutter table size.

I cut card board by using the data above and got one in the picture below. When assembling, I found that few holes are missing and stage depth need to be less. I adjusted it manually. I also adjusted the data(.cdr) in case of next cutting.
download .cdr .ai

Continue... week11 machine design