Project Management

HTML

Using a HTML text editor called Sublime Text, I was able to understand and modify the code. This allowed me to make small adjustments to the interface of my website.

 

 

Git

This software allows me to share information in a secure way. We learned how to upload our files with Git to the MIT server. I had trouble in this step because I use a Mac and the command line is necessary to work. I realized my computer did not have one so I had to download a utility Mac provides called Terminal. With terminal I was able to type the commands.

After downloading terminal I had to generate a key to pair my computer with Fab Academy gitlab. With instructions from the gitlab I generated a key and copied it to the dialog box. Now, my computer was succesfully paired with the server.

The final step to create the repository are a set of commands. The image belowe shows the commands I typed into Terminal with my information. These commands create a clone of the folder where the information is stored and uploads it to the server. Once the commands are accepted, Terminal displays a message that the repository was created. To update it, I just copy the contents of my folder into the folder that is paired with the server and type respective commands.

DOCUMENT MISTAKE

The remote host identification changed and I got a warning message in my computer. I stopped using my computer for git uploads

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Computer Aided Design

Description:

Computer aided design is one of the first assignments because it is important for the rest of the Fab Academy. Learning different 3D design softwares is useful for the upcomming assignments. I used Rhino to design the object I made for week 3 (computer controlled cutting). In this week, I explored the following softwares.

Softwares:

Rhino
Tinkercad
Sculptris

Downloads:

Download files

 

Sculptris

The first 3D modeling software I explored is called Sculptris. Sculptris is similiar to a virtual ball of clay. You can use different tools to mold and create new forms. The software is very intuitive because the tools are simple actions like: pinch, inflate, and smooth. The software is useful for digital animation amongst other disciplines. I created a wierd shape that looked like a flower/mushroom from a fantasy movie.

pinch-inflate-smooth

I started exploring the different tools to create the shape of a shroom. The software is called Sculptris because it is similir to the process of sculpting. You remove and modify the mass to create something new. You can also paint the new form with different colors and brushes.

TinkerCad

TinkerCad is a simple 3D modeling software available online. You can create an account online to save and manage your projects. The program is easy to use but some commands are not available. Building from primitive shapes is the easiest way to model. I didn´t understand how to remove parts of an object. The software is very useful for quick modelling, but I wouldn´t recommend it for more complex projects.

I used this software to create the basic shape of a toolbox for the fabacademy. Using basic shapes, I constructed the model. It was easy to use and it helped me understand the shapes that compose the unit. I also designed the internal divisions of the box.

views: top-front-ortho

Rhino

The objective of group project is to introduce the students to the laser cutter. We had the task to create a small piece of furniture from a single 90 x 60 cm. cardboard. We came up with some designs for a stool using Rhino. The software is very useful for small to medium scale objects.

The objective of the individual project was to make a module that combines with identical pieces to create a system. We made some excercies in class before making one of our own. Again, Rhino was very helpful to visualize the parametric design of the system.

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Computer Controlled Cutting

Description:

Computer controlled cutting is commonly known as laser cutting. This process allows for precision cutting in different materials that range from 0.2mm - 10 mm. The assignment was to make lasercutter test parts, varying cutting settings and slot dimensions. The individual assingment was to design, make, and document a parametric press-fit construction kit which can be assembled in multiple ways

Softwares:

Corel Draw
Smart Carve
SureCuts

Machines:

CamFive 900x600
RedSail 1200x900
MK2 Vinyl Cutter

Materials:

Corrugated Cardboard 0.5mm
MDF 0.3mm
Vinyl

Downloads:

Download files

I used a CamFive laser cutter to make the modular pieces. The machine uses a program called CoralDraw that reads regular PDF files and converts them to PLT format. SmartCarve is the program that the machine uses to read PLT files. In this program you have to adjust the settings to set your workspace. You also have to adjust the max. and min. power, as well as the cutting speed. Once you are ready, you have to set the origin of the laser. The origin means the point where the laser starts. After getting the settings right, click the option "carve out" for the machine to start cutting the file.

Group Project

We made two different types of stool. One of them used simple pieces and had a bigger scale. It was an attempt to understand how the machine worked and how to assemble simple pieces. The smaller stool had fewers pieces and was a bit harder to assemble. Nevertheless, it looked aesthetically pleasing compared to the bigger one. We used 0.3 mm cardboard for both projects.

Personal Project

The task was to create a single piece that could form a system when multiplied. I created a simple equilateral triangle with slots in the vertices to join the other pieces. The small cavities help to hold the system together because the pieces have a small extrusion that locks them in place. I was surprised because the pieces created a system that locked in place in almost every section. Some systems, like the one we did first, could not be locked together since the pieces were attached in different directions. This one worked fine and it was easy to assemble

Vectors-Laser

Parametric Design

The defintion of parametric design is: "a process based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that, together, define, encode and clarify the relationship between design intent and design response".
My design uses one main parameter which is wood thickness. Using Rhino, I made a basic module with cavities made for 1mm thick material. With the "scale" tool I set the scale factor of the material I want to use. For example if I am using 3mm MDF, I set scale factor of 3 for the cavity. This parameter changes the whole shape of the module to adjust it to the material I want to use. It is important to use the cavity as a guiding point because this ensures that the snap-fits will change according to the new parameter.

Parametric OpenSCAD Press-fit Kit

Reference: Juan Carlos Miranda
Download Files: Here

Open SCAD to make a different shape to make a press-fit kit. The first step is to set the material thickness which is the variable that we are going to work with. To form the vertical axis of the piece I use the command: square([20,80],true); After this, new shapes are added to the axis and rotated to form the cross-shapped piece. With the command: difference(){ the colored pieces are subtracted from the original shape to get the snap-fit piece. Finally, the model is exported in SVG format to be read by the laser cutter.

Vinyl Cutting

Vinyl cutting is very similar to laser cutting. The machine is much smaller but works with the same process as the laser cutter. It uses a very small blade to make the cuts on the material. I made a design of my name and a personal logo and saved it as a PDF. After this, I opened the file in a software called SureCuts which the machine uses to set the cut. The material I used is grey adhesive vinyl.

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Electronics Production

Description:

Electronics productions is the introduction to the electronic content of the Fab Academy. In this week, we are given a circuit called the Fab ISP that we must produce. This circuit can be used as an Arduino to program other boards to make different tasks. To make it, we had to design the circuit board and solder the necessary components.

Softwares:

AutoDesk Eagle
Arduino IDE
FlatCam

Machines:

MiniCNC Engraving Machine

Materials:

Copper plate
1/32 Milling Cutter
Solder Paste
Tweezers

Components:

1 ATTiny 44 microcontroller/ 1 Capacitor 1uF/ 2 Capacitor 10 pF/ 2 Resistor 100 ohm/ 1 Resistor 499 ohm/ 1 Resistor 1K ohm/ 1 Resistor 10K/ one 6 pin header/ 1 USB connector/ 2 jumpers - 0 ohm resistors/ 1 Crystal 20MHz/ 2 Zener Diode 3.3 V/ 1 usb mini cable/ 1 ribbon cable/ two 6 pin connectors

Downloads:

Download files

Arduino

We used Arduino UNO board to learn the basics of electronics and programming. The first three excercises were simple tasks to understand how programming works. It is important to learn code and syntax to understand the commands that you type into ARDUINO. The diagrams are made with a program called Fritzing.

Blink Test

 

 

 

Button Test

 

 

 

Array Test

.

 

 

Eagle

We used a software by Autodesk called Eagle to design the circuit boards. With the basic knowledge from the previous class, we could understand schematic diagrams of circuits. This was vital to be able to make our own schematic diagram in Eagle.

Reference diagram for the circuit board
Eagle schematic diagram

To make the schematic diagram in Eagle, we uploaded a library of components for the Fab Academy with the specifications and requirements that we needed. Drag and drop the file into the library section of the control panel.

To check if the schematic diagram is correct, you can use the eye tool to see if the connections match. Once this is done, it is time to create the board. With the option on top that says "generate board" you can switch from schematic to board display.

Board

Once we have the board it is necesary to move the components around to make it more organized. We can do this manually by moving and rotating the components or we can use a tool called Ratsnest that does this automatically. When this is done, we use the tool Autorouter to make the board. This optimizes the routes to find the best configuration.

PCB

Using a milling machine, we made PCB (printed circuit board). The machine reads a language called GCODE that contains a series of commands for the machine to trace the places were it moves. To generate a GCODE, it is necessary to import the board diagram made in Eagle to a software called FlatCam.

 

FlatCam generates Gerbers formats, which are diagrams that show the sections of the board. We made three different Gerbers for the machine to read and cut: isolation routing, paint area, and cutout.

Isolation routing (green) represents the connections and spaces for the components in the board.

Paint area (blue) is the sections of the board that have no information, therefore are removed. This avoids interference between channels and leaves more space to solder.

Cutout (blue) is the path the machine cuts to be able to remove the PCB from the copper plate.

Process

Product

Components ISP

The components were found in a website that sells a wide variety of electronics called Digi-Key Electronics. It also has useful tools like resistor code color calcultors and Ohm's Law Calculator. We improvised a jumper by soldering two paths to close the circuit since we ran out of actual 0 ohms resistors. The jumpers are necessary to start the board when programming.

Process

I had a very hard time with the general assembly process and specifically with soldering. I kept soldering the whole chord to the board and letting it dry. My card doesn't look neat but it was constantly tested and the circuit worked.

 

 

Programming

Using a MKRK22 programer, I connected the ISP to my computer. The green lights indicate that the connections are OK and that the board is working. The next step is very important because it gives the microcontroller a series of parameters to comunicate with programmer, in this case, my computer. In Terminal, I typed the following commands in this order: make clean, make hex, make fuse, make program. Once the commands are accepted, the ISP is ready to be programmed.

Correction

When the FabISP was finished, I had to remove two Zener Diodes 3.3 V because they were not making the programming possible. The Zener diodes function as a protective measure against electrostatic discharges. USB is a high-speed protocol very susceptible to capacitance, which is the capacity to store charge. The Zener diodes were weakening the signal between the computer and the microcontroller. This made the programmer seem to work but in reality the parts were having communication problems. As the component is not critical, removing them desn't affect the Fab ISP performance. I was also missing two capacitors adjacent to the crystal.

DOCUMENT MISTAKE

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3D printing & Scanning

Description:

3D printing and scanning covers a range of options to inspect and reproduce objects using technology. 3D scanning uses machines to make a digital model or a mesh of a real life object. This is process allows to convert real life objects in digital formats. 3D printing is a process that a machine makes an exact copy of a digital file using different types of materials. Our fablab has two types materials for 3D printing available: PLA (plastic fillament) and cast

Scanners:

Artec EVA
Artec Spider
Geomagic Capture
XBOX Kinnect
Sense Scanner

3D Printers:

ProJet CJP 460Plus
Cube Pro Trio
Simple Metal
PrintrBot

Materials:

PLA
PP
Plaster

Softwares:

Corel Draw
Smart Carve

Downloads:

Download files

Scanning

3D Scanning is a very important part of the digital fabrication process. Using different scanners one can map any volume to make a digital model. The range and the quality of the scans varies depending on the equipment. The following are a few of the scanners we used.

 

Name: XBOX Kinnect
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Pros: Availability, user friendly, cheap
Cons: Low quality scan, multiple image scan using KScan3D

 

 

Name: Sense Scanner
Manufacturer: 3D Systems
Pros: Availability, user friendly, cheap
Cons: Low quality scan, single scan only

 

Name: Artec Spider
Manufacturer: Artec
Pros: High quality scan, texture+geometry, 0.1 mm presicion
Cons: short range, small scale objects

 

Name: Artec Eva
Manufacturer: Artec
Pros: High quality scan, large objects
Cons: less precise compared to Spider (0.3mm), cannot scan textures

 

Name: Capture
Manufacturer: Geomagic
Pros: Very high quality scan, precision scanning
Cons: Not portable, expensive

Group Project

Assignment: test the design rules for your printer

The printer was tested during the group project. The printer we have a the lab is a Printrbot 1405 simple maker's kit. Juan Carlos Miranda explains the outcome of this excercise here

 

For the group project we used an Artec Spider scanner from 3D Systems. The decision to use this scanner was made after selecting from a group of objects which of them was the most compatible with this scanner. The object is a coral with a complex form on the top part. The scale of the object was favorable for the Spider scanner.

3D Scan

The piece was printed with a ProJet CJP 460Plus printer from 3D systems. The machine can print pieces in color using a material similar to cast. The coral had to be cleaned up carefully to remove the leftover material inside the cracks.

The piece that was discarded was a bicycle shift lever. It was an challenging object to scan for its complexity. A blue light, industrial scanner such as the Capture would have worked for this piece. The colors were a problem for the Spider since it doesn't capture black and reflective surfaces properly. The 3D model shows the missing fragments.

Single Project

Assignment: Scan and 3D print an object that could not be made subtractively

Using the XBOX Kinnect scanner, I made a scan of myself. The scanner uses a software called KScan3D that works with multiple images to produce the scan. I sat on a chair and gradually rotated for the scanner to capture every angle of my head. With about 20+ images, the software alligned the points to produce a 3D model. This shape was saved in STL format for the 3D printer to read.

Using Rhino I completed some parts of the mesh that were missing from the scan. The top part of my head had missing information because images didn't cover that part. After that, I imported the shape into Cura. It is a simple software that generates GCodes that the 3D printer can read. It also helped to level the model with the plane leveling wizard tool. The column on the left contains all the variables that the 3D printer has. It is important to control aspects such as speed and temperature to ensure a quality product. Every material has a different melting temperature and an optimum speed for printing. The object was scaled down by 0.1 to fit the Cube Pro Trio 3D printer plate. The object was printed in yellow PLA material

This object can't be made subtractively because it is a mesh composed of many polygons that make up an image of myself. If it was to be made subtractevely, we would need a milling machine that runs in more that 3 axis to generate the details of the object. For example, the cavity in the ears and eyes could not be made with a regular milling machine because it only removes material from the top. For this reason, the quality of the scan might be lost if it was to be made subtractively

Product

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Electronics Design

Description:

The task of this week was to design our own PCB board. The board has to perform a simple task such as controlling a LED. We used Eagle to design the circuit. The schematic diagram shows the different parts and components of my board.

Softwares:

AutoDesk Eagle
Arduino IDE
FlatCam

Machines:

MiniCNC Engraving Machine

Materials:

Copper plate
1/32 Milling Cutter
Solder Paste
Tweezers

Components:

1 ATTiny 45 microcontroller/ 1 Capacitor 1uF/ 1 Reset button/ 1 Resistor 100 ohm/ 1 Resistor 10 ohm/ two 6 pin header/ 2 jumpers - 0 ohm resistors/ 1 LED/

Downloads

Download Files

Board Design

Following the same process explained in Electronics Production (week 4), I created the layout for the board using the Autodesk Eagle software. It is important to leave space between the traces to make the soldering process easier. The image bellow shows the schematic diagram of the board with all the components. The next image only contains routes and pads. This is the image that the milling machine generates on the copper board.

Process

'

My soldering improved considerably this time. I had a better soldering iron which made the process easier. The design was easy to follow and there was enough space to allow for mistakes such as the one in the image above.

Components

 

Correction

DOCUMENT MISTAKE '

Final Board

Download Files: here

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Computer Controlled Machining

Description:

This week's assignment is: "Make something big." The CNC machine can make precise cuts in thicker materials as opposed to the laser cutter. This opens the possibility to make bigger things. I used 0.9mm MDF but the machine can cut up to 1.8mm material.

Materials:

MDF 0.9mm

Machines:

Red Sail M-1325X

Softwares:

ArtCamRhino

Downloads:

Download files

Design

I enjoyed this week's assignment very much because I got to use the CNC Router. I made a tall bench using press-fitted pieces of 9mm plywood. I realized the bench looked more like a table when it was done but it can serve both purposes.

Considering the material was only 9mm thick, I designed the structure of the bench to distribute the load in different tension points. I used press fit joints to assemble the bench easily. The dimensions are based on what I considered was a comfortable space to sit and a adequate height to rest my feet. I used Rhino to visualize how the object was going to look. I made a small circle with the diameter of the drill (6.35mm) to ensure that none of the cavities were smaller than the minimun drilling size.

Process

Once the design was finished, I exported the pieces to generate vectors that the CNC Router can read. I used the join tool in Rhino to make each piece a single curve. The router uses a software called ArtCam. ArtCam generates toolpaths for the document. This is an important step because you have to adjust the settings for the drill and the material that you are going to use. In this case I used a 1/4" drill (6.35mm) and a 9mm material.

The first pieces I cut where the perforations. The file side is set to "inside" for the drill to cut inside the line. This ensures that the perforations are exactly the size they are intended to be. After that I made the perimeter cuts by changing the setting to outside. The toolpath is saved in a USB key that is connected directly to the machine.

 

Product

The press fit joints made the object easy to assemble. It didn't require glue or nails. The structure of the bench was solid and supported my weight.

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Embedded Programming

Description:

This week we had to test our board by programming it to do a simple task. The board was designed and produced during week 6(electronics design). It uses an ATTINY 45 microcontroller. This is important to know because we have to read the data sheet to understand several aspects of the microcontroller such as: pin configuration, supply voltage and connection ports. We use the FabISP from week 4(electronics production) to connect the board with the computer and be able to program it. We use Arduino IDE to program the ISP.

Materials:

Breadboard
USB cale
pin header cable

Softwares:

Arduino IDE
Arduino code reference

Downloads:

Download files

Steps:

• 1:Connect the Fab ISP (week 4) using a USB cable
• 2:Install drivers
• 3:Open Arduino IDE

• 4:Before starting, we must add the ISP to the list of boards in the Arduino IDE. Open the File menu and go to Preferences
• 5:Find the “Additional Boards Manager URLs” field
• 6:Copy and paste this URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/damellis/attiny/ide-1.6.x-boards-manager/package_damellis_attiny_index.json with not line break

• 7:Open Tools menu and go to Board-->Boards manager
• 8:Find with "att" the attiny by David A. Mellis version 1.0.2. Then Install
• 9:Open Tools menu and go to Board, check on ATtiny25/45/85

• 10:Open Tools menu-->Processor and check ATtiny45
• 11:Open Tools menu-->Clock and check Internal 1 or 8 MHz
• 12:Open Tools menu-->Programmer and check USBtinyISP

Testing the board

• 1: Connect the FabISP with the board. We must be careful to properly connect the pins starting with 5V and GND
• 2: The LED turns on, meaning that the board is recieving power
• 3: I will upload the blink code I learned in week 4 (electronics production), to test the system

• 4: The IDE verifies that everything is written according to the required syntax. Then it establishes the connection with the device and upload the instructions in a language understandable for the microprocessor. If everything is OK, the code will be uploaded and the program will display the amount of memory used at the bottom of the window
• 5: To wire my board I use a breadboard with a LED and a 220 Ohms resistance. The LED is connected to pin #1 of the microprocessor and resistance to GND.The ISP is connected to my computer which acts as a power supply for the board.
• 6: The LED blinks which means that everything works!

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Mechanical Design

Machines:

CamFive 900x600
PrintrBot

Softwares:

Corel Draw
Smart Carve
Rhino

Materials:

MDF 0.3mm
PLA

Project

FAB LAB VERITAS

 

This week we had the oportunity to work as a group to build a machine. We decided to make a plant watering machine with pieces from an old 3D printer. The idea was to move a central pieces along a set of rails. This central piece will carry a hose to water the plants. The frame was designed and cut in 3mm MDF.

 

Process

My contribution to this group project was the first step of the process, designing a frame for the machine. The structure consists of a 3x3 grid with columns in the corners. Above, two rails to support the central structure. The pieces were cut in 3mm MDF. The assembly was easy but we concluded that the material was not favorable for the pieces in the rail.

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Machine Design

Machines:

CamFive 900x600
PrintrBot
Computer
Mobile

Softwares:

Corel Draw(vector graphics)
Smart Carve(laser cutter software)
Rhino(3D modelling)

Materials:

MDF 0.3mm
PLA filament
Salvaged parts

Downloads:

Download Files

Project

FAB LAB VERITAS

 

Juan Carlos Miranda explains the machine

The first ideas we came up with as a group were:

1.Machine to squeeze oranges for juice
2.Machine to water plants
3.Braille printer
4.Robotic camera arm

< >

We decided to make a plant watering machine.The machine must have a movable port that runs on the x and y axis to position a hose over water each plant. The plants will be arranged in a grid of 3x3 under the machine head. Movement on the z axis is not absolutely necessary, so we will discuss wether to add it or not during th process.

At the lab we were offered an old broken 3d printer to salvage parts and reuse them in our machine. Salvaged parts include: stepper motors, metal bars, bearings, electronic components, and others

Alberto Raygada made a list of components with some technical data

A system of rack and pinion was designed for the machine using OpenSCAD

Final

The first idea of a rack and pinion did not work well. The system was not moving parallel to the axis, so it got stuck easily. We decided to change the system to a screw, to convert rotation to linear movement. The MDF box has a nut attached to it, so when the screw is rotated by the stepper motor, the box moves in one direction along the screw. Another such system is mounted on the box, so there is another movement along the other axis, perpendicular to the first one

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Input Devices

Description:

The assignment for this week was to measure something: add a sensor to a microcontroller board that you have designed and read it. This was an important assignment for the development of my project because I learned how to read data from a photoresistor (LDR). The LDR works by sensing the intensity of light in its environment. The data it collects is desplayed in serial values from 0-1024. This values are classified in ranges that are used to program my output device: a stepper motor.

Softwares:

Arduino IDE
Terminal (MacOSX)

Materials:

Microcontroller Board (Fabduino 328)
Breadboard
Photoresistor
10K ohm Resistor
Wires
USB cable
Power Source (computer)

Downloads:

Reference
Download Files

Process

The first part of the process was to connect the photoresistor to the microcontroller board. The microcontroller board is a fabuino I designed by modifying the fabuino the fab academy provides. My board runs with a 16 mHz crystal instead of 20 mHz. After milling the board, I realized there were two tracks that were touching and had to be separated using a small cutter. The other main difference between my fabduino and the one provided by the academy is that it uses two 22pF capacitors for that specific crystal while the fab academy fabduino has none of these components. The tracks that had to be separated are the ones that run under the 10k ohm resistors. The links for the original design files are here

Correction #1

Finished Board

The diagram below shows how to connect a photoresistor to an Arduino. The next diagram shows the layout of my microcontroller board. I used the Arduino example as a guide to connect my board to the LDR

DIAGRAMS

After connecting the LDR with the microcontroller board, I copied a code to read serial values into the Arduino Ide. This programs the LDR to read values from 0-1024 depending on the amount of light it senses. After that, I used Terminal to read the information from the USB port the board was connected to. It read higher values when the light was brightest and lower ones when the light was low.

CODE AND SERIAL VALUES

Testing

Sensor Board

The sensor board I designed contains a photoresistor (LDR), 10k Ohm resistor and an output pin to connect to the controller board. The sensor measures light intensity through a serial value read by the controller board. The cut files to make the routes of the board can be found here

FINISHED SENSOR BOARD

The sensor board works through an analog pin (AO). Since it's only function is monitor changes in light through serial values, the code to program the board is very simple. The setup needs a the command "serial.begin(9600)" to begin to monitor. The loop has an analogRead command through pin A0 in this case, Serial.println(val) to start printing values from the serial monitor, and finally a delay of 10 between each serial value read

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Molding & Casting

Description:

The assignment for this week is: "design a 3D mold, machine it, and use it to cast parts." Molding and casting is an easy way to produce small objects. I made a personal stamp with my initials. The process is an interesting challenge because it demands inverse thinking. To make the object you must first make the mold. The process consists of three parts: countermold, mold, and final piece.

Materials:

Paraffin wax blocks, silicone rubber compound, liquid plastic

Machines:

Milling Machine

Softwares:

Rhino
ArtCam

Downloads:

Download files

Counter Mold

The material I used to make the counter mold was a 75mm x 175mm x 37.5mm paraffin wax prism. This is the first setting we change in the milling machine. Once this is set, you must import your model by clicking in the window reliefs. I designed the counter mold using Rhino. The model must be exported as a mesh for the machine to be able to read

There are several tips to consider before designing the countermold. The first is that the walls must be at a small angle to ensure that the mold is easy to remove from the counter mold. The second consideration is that the model must have two apertures: one to pour the material and the other one to let the air bubbles come out of the mixture

Third consideration: drill size. In my case, I used a 3mm drill for the roughing cut and a 1.5mm drill for the finishing cut. Consider this measurements the minimum posible in your model because otherwise, the drill could ruin the final piece. The machine cuts 2mm of material each time. This measurement is also used as the safe distance for the machine to move the drill

The next step is to save the toolpaths in the USB key. The first toolpath is the roughing cut (3mm drill). The second tool path is the finishing cut (1.5mm) drill. The software displays the parts it will remove in orange.

The last step is to cut the counter mold. I was constantly removing the waste material to avoid sticky bumps of paraffin. Finally, I added vegetable oil to the counter mold to ensure that the silicone would not adhere to the walls.

Mold

For the rubber mold we prepared a mixture with equal parts of the compound. The rubber mix was stirred slowly to avoid creating bubbles, then poured into the wax. Finally, the counter mold was vibrated to let the air bubbles out, and let to rest during 11 hours.

Final piece

I used two MDF pieces to hold the mold together. The liquid plastic mixture is made with equal parts of the compound. It takes about 15 min to completely dry. The final piece had some imperfections that is corrected by sanding the piece.

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Output Devices

Description:

The assignment for this week was to add an output device to a microcontroller board you've designed and program it to do something. This was an important assignment for the development of my project because I learned how to control a stepper motor. I used an EasyDriver to drive the motor because it has to move a structure with a considerable weight. This weight demands a higher voltage than the 5V that my microcontroller can handle. The stepper motor is the main part of my project because it moves the structure to react accordingly to the solar patterns. One full rotation of the motor equals 1cm of vertical movement. I had to make a code that combines two variables: serial values (light intensity) and motor rotations (movement).

Softwares:

Arduino IDE
Terminal (MacOSX)

Materials:

Microcontroller Board (Fabduino 328)
Cables(female/female)
Power source (12V)
Positive/Negative Cables
Easy Driver
Stepper Motor

Downloads:

Reference
DOWNLOAD FILES

Process

The first part of the process was to make the circuit that connects the three main parts: motor, driver, and microcontroller. The driver is connected to the board through a digital pin. The diagram shows how to connect a the driver to an Arduino. I used this diagram as a guide to connect the driver to my original controller board. After that, I connected the motor to the driver based on the diagram and conected it to the power source.

DIAGRAM

The code is relatively simple since there are few variables to change. The first variable and the most important one is the amout to rotations the motor makes. This determines how much does the structure open and closes. To revert the direction of the rotation I just insert a negative value. The second variable that can be changed is the speed of the motor. I tested the motor with a 1600 value which equals one full rotation and 1 cm of vertical displacement. After testing the motor I realized that slower speed=stronger movement and vice-versa.

CODE AND CONNECTION

Testing

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Composites

Description:

Assignment: Read the material safety data sheet (MSDS) and technical data sheet (TDS) for the resins that you're using
Design and fabricate a 3D mold (~ft2) and produce a fiber composite part in it
I decided to make a stand for my cellphone using polyester resin. The mould was made using laser cut layer of MDF (medium density fiber)

Materials:

Polyester resin, MDF (3mm), cloth, resin catalyst, clamps

Machines:

Red Sail laser cutter

Softwares:

Rhino
ArtCam
123D Make

Downloads:

Download files

Mould

The mould was designed using Rhino. I got the shape of the cellphone dock from thingiverse. The original file is available here . After designing the mould in rhino, I exported the model to 123D Make. This software generates a pdf with stacking pieces of the model you design.

We have no access to vacuum bags, so I made two pieces that use compression to remove excess resin

Materials

For this assignment I will use unsaturated polyester resin. The main precautions to consider are: Flammable Liquid, category 3 H226, Skin Irritation, category 2 H315, Eye Irritation, category 2 H319, Reproductive Toxicity, category 2 H361,STOT, and repeated exposure, category 1 H372

Safety Data Sheet
Technical Data Sheet

Resin and Catalyst

Other information to be aware of:

Composites

I prepared the resin to make the composite material. It is important to use all the safety equipment given that the resin is highly toxic. These include: gloves, glasses and mask. The bottle contains a table with indications to make the mixture. It says that 1% catalyst for the total mix. I prepared a small amount of resin (1 Oz., 30mL) with 12 drops of catalyst following the instructions in the table

After this I prepared 5 layers of fabric combined with the resin mixture to insert into the mould. Using the other piece, I applied pressure between them to remove excess resin material. After this, I let the mixture dry for a couple of hours

Results

The cellphone broke when I was removing the mould. For future projects, I would recommend making a more regular shape to make the de-moulding process easier. I would also recommend using a different type of resin because this one looks somewhat dirty. Another conclusion is that MDF doesn't work well as mould material because it sticks to the piece and requires some sanding

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Network & Communications

Description:

The assignment for this module is to design and build a wired or wireless network connecting at least two processor. Any of the PCB's I have produced throughout the Fab Academy can be connected to form a network. However, I decided to connect two ATTINY 328 processors since they work like an Arduino and tutorials are available. I used the I2C protocol to connect the microprocessors.

Softwares:

Arduino IDE
Terminal (MacOSX)

Materials:

Two Microcontroller Boards (Fabduino 328)
Jumper Cables(female/female)

Downloads:

Reference
Download Files

Fabduino 328 Production

Schematic & Diagram

I2C

Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) is used communicate between components on motherboards or in any other electronic system. We will program one master board to command the other slave board to blink an external LED once or twice depending on the received value.

Steps:
1 Connect pins A4 and A5 on one Fabdino 328 to the same pins on the other one
2 The GND line has to be common for both boards

Code

The code is split in two parts: the master code and the slave code. The master board sends a serial value to a specific address in the slave board. The value the master code sends is set in a range of 0 to 5. Every time the slave board reads the set value, all devices with the same address will receive the transmission.

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Interface & Application Programming

Description:

Assignment: write an application that interfaces with an input &/or output device that you made. I combined my previous assignments into a single code to run a stepper motor according to the intensity of light read by a sensor.

Softwares:

Arduino IDE

Materials:

Microcontroller Board (Fabduino 328)
Cables(female/female)
Power source (12V)
Positive/Negative Cables
Easy Driver
Breadboard
Photoresistor
10K ohm Resistor
Wires
USB cable
Power Source

Downloads:

Download Files

Programming

The code is composed of two parts: motor and sensor. The input(senor) code is shorter than the larger output(motor) code therefore, merged into it. The variables the final code has relates the amount of rotations from the motor to a serial value read from the photoresistor. Two extra variables are added to the code: apereture/diference.
Motor Code (left) Sensor Code (right)

Final Code

Final Test

Processing

I used Processing to graph the serial values read by the sensor board (input devices). This assignment helped me understand how to change data from serial values into graphic information using this software. I am detecting changes in light with a photo-resistor in the form of voltage differences. I am then attempting to graph the change in voltage over time. My code is coming from a tutorial on how to graph.

Download Code

SERIAL READ/PROCESSING CODE/GRAPH

GUI

GUI stand for graphic user interface. I made a graph with two variables: voltage and time. The curve displays the changes in light intesity detected by the sensor over time. The small vertical lines are minor errors in lecture from the LDR. These problems are due to the fact that I am completely blocking the light with my hand. During a 24 hour period, this mistakes will not occur because ambient light has more subtle changes

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Apllications & Implications

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

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What will it do?

My project is a dinamic module that responds to solar conditions by sensing light in the environment. The module can be repeated any number of times, creating light responsive enclosures or facades.

Who's done what beforehand?

A number of people have done similar projects to this one. My main reference is the facade of the Al Bahar Towers in Dubai by AEDAS Architecture.

What materials and components will be required?

Wood: Plywood (18 mm), MDF (5mm)
PLA (3D printing plastic fillamnent)
Stepper Motor
Photoresistor (LDR)
Jumper cables
Fadbuino 328(week 15)
Breadboard
Power source(12V)

Where will they come from?

Our FabLab has many of the materials and electric components. The ones I don't have I will buy at the local electronics store(CRCibernética).

How much will it cost?

Less than 100$

What parts and systems will be made?

I made every part of the project but the stepper motor and the motor driver.

What processes will be used?

CNC routing, laser cutting, milling, 3D printing, and electronics production.

What tasks need to be completed?

Moving a structure to open and close according to the intensity of the light in the environment.

What questions need to be answered?

I still need to figure out the material to make the panels. It needs to be strong but light and ideally, capture energy from the sun.

What is the schedule?

Fab Academy deadlines.

How will it be evaluated?

I want to test the module for 24 hours in an exposed setting to see how it responds to real solar conditions.

Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project?

I used this premise all throughout my project. I would say 95% of the parts was made rather than bought.

Bill of Materials

Total cost (aprox): 85 $

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Invention, Intellectual Property & Income

Tornasol

Plan for dissemination

The project I made for the Fab Academy is the first prototype of a venture I would like to develop. I am motivated by the idea that technology can help us build in more efficient and sustainable ways. Tornasol aims to create responsive systems that block direct radiation to control temperature and ventilation inside different buildings. With the right execution, these systems can represent significant savings in energy consumption and help the enviornment. Furthermore, the concept of kinetic architecture fascinates me and makes me dream about the future.

Licence

After investigating different types of licences and patents, I concluded that MIT Licence is the most suitable model of protection for this first step of development. This licence protects the author or copywrite holder from any claims and damages. I believe this is the best model for my project because the prototype stage it is in is subject to changes and modifications. I believe a partnership would be necessary for further development of the project in terms of production and distribution.
Tornasol is the first step in the development of finished product. I believe MIT Licence is a suitable license for the moment. If I develop the project into a finished product, Trademark would be a a more suitable licence

Copywrite 2017 Esteban Oreamuno Blandino
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.




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