Week #7 - Journal
Ideation
Tell us about your assignment's idea for this week. Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you? (Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)
Among the major systems in a woodworking shop is the dust collection system. Woodworking produces huge amounts of wood shaving and dust, which is considered a health hazard. Most of the dust particles remain airborne for an extended amount of time. The dust collection system removes and holds all the shaving and dust. This system is made of a strong vacuum/blower, a dust holding bag and pipes extending to each machine. For an efficient use of this system, its advised to concentrate the vacuuming power to each machine by using blast gates that allows dust collection for a certain machine at a time. Most commercially available blast gates are manual so i decided to automate this system and make my workshop more efficient and healthy.
The video explains how they work and how to make them.
Tool Chain
Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?
First, i used tinker cad to sketch and design the circuit and make sure everything works properly. Then i used my Arduino uno and electronics kit to assemble my design. Using the Arduino IDE i wrote the proper code and made sure it works without a glitch (which took much more time and mental energy than i expected). Finally i used scrap cardboard and a hot glue gun to build my design.
Schematic view on tinker cad
Design/Preparation Process
Explain the design and/or preparation process of your assignment. How did you use the tool or software to design and/or prepare your assignment before fabrication/implementation?
Tinker cad enabled me to design and wire my components. I used an arduino uno, a micro servo, led lights, push buttons and a lcd screen to display the state of the gate.
Circuit on tinker cad
Development/Implementation Process
Explain the development/implementation process of your assignment. How did you use the machine/tool to manufacture or implement the design of your assignment?
First i used the IDE software to create the proper code. Then i assembled the design using the electronics kit with the parts mentioned previously, and uploaded the code to the Arduino. Basically, 2 push buttons, one to open and the other to close the gates. Additionally the green led lights turns on when the gate is open and the red led bulbs lights turns on when its closed. The LCD screen shows the state of the gate either GATE OPEN or GATE CLOSED.
This video shows how it works.
Automatic blast gate model
GATES CLOSED, RED LIGHT.
GATES OPEN, GREEN LIGHT.
The idea behind this project is to control the blast gate for the dust collection system. If you push the right button, the gates open and the LCD screen shows "GATES OPEN" and if you push the left button the gates close and the LCD screen shows "GATES CLOSED".
Unfortunately videos taken by my phone are not working for an unknown reason. Wrong format issue.
Backside
"JOY STICK"
Backside
The following is the Arduino C code on the IDE
Overcoming Challenges
What kinds of challenges or problems did you face while doing the assignment, tutorials, or exercises? How did you solve them? Did you ask for help from an instructor or peer? Please provide a link to the tutorial or article that you used to solve your problem (if any)
The most challenging part was the coding. I find it extremely difficult to fully grasp the language and arrange the code properly. But i always reach my goal after several attempts. The Arduino website and our instructors helped me get through most of my obstacles. But i also know that it shouldn't be that difficult, i just need to practice more.
Final Project
How can you use the skills and knowledge that you've acquired this week in your final project?
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WOW!
What is the coolest thing that you've learned this week? What is something that you will never forget from this week?
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Weekly Digest [OPTIONAL]
Tell us about any other cool things that you've made this week: in the Hands-on activity, tutorial examples, exercises, or any other cool mini-project that you tried out aside from the assignment.
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