Overview of Status of Analysis, Design, Fabrication, Tests, etc.
Mechanical Side:
Modification of Photo interrupter housing
New design of glass and tube holder
Research on different types of connectors
Software Side:
Need to interface GUI and controls together.
Individually functional. Now putting on bells & whistles, as well as error management.
Accomplishments from Previous Week
Mechanical:
Finalize the design of photo interrupter housing
Made the decision on connectors and purchase.
GUI
Read and learned about basic Python tkinter, numbers, strings, date/time, and network.
Created a Python GUI that's fundamentally functional.
Goals for Next Week (list names after each item). Use specific and measurable objectives.
Fabricate glass and tube holder
Come up with design of shelf
GUI - Sara
Edit bugs and error management. Make user friendly and practical.
Interface with Benson's part of code to control experiments.
Sponsor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)
Meeting 1/30/2020
GUI
Filename default, but can be changed. Entry box.
Character limit?
Data files after experiments
Only need to sort cage. Researchers will handle the bulk of the sorting.
If split into 4 csv files. Leave a counter for time sort. (not very necessary though)
Want: low risk, no scrambled chronologically. *Important*
Like the idea of one file. <---- stick with this!
Sorting is not an issue for them.
Pressure Sensor verification
With new pipette was able to verify slope from previous group experiments.
Wait 1-2 minutes to reach steady state after closing toggle valve, before starting experiments.
Every time fluid taken out in large amounts, fluctuations in pressure sensor before settling.
Likely due to disturbance in fluid?
Drilling hole for the box
Drilling hole in plastic not bad. There is a specific thread for acrylic. This is a known tool.
Housing design updated
Threaded connector updates
Spring connector
Make sure no air trapped inside.
Purchase is difficult, and may take a while.
try; Granger, McMaster Carr, Fisher Scientific (need a business account). Try calling them and talking to customer service.
These connectors are abundant though, so try to look into other vendors.
Tube volume critical?
Considerations: spillage, pressure sensor
Engineering standards from Max
Instructor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)
Meeting 1/28/2020
Asked about wired connection decision --> confirmed
Asked about RasberryPI --> "wow" design that is getting shelved
Perfect design in theory for the threaded tube connectors. Next step: confirm air tight or not.
GUI
Include the title block on top of GUI and comment out well
Visual check LED lights
Great idea
Comments from Other Students in the Class (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)
N/A
Risks and Areas of Concern
System maintenance and cleaning
Open flow connectors
Compatibility with fiber photometry
External connection to the cage
User friendly and communication with ESP32
Python GUI
Stable data transfer
Cable connection with ESP32
Resources or Information Required but not Available
N/A
Schedule
Describe upcoming milestone
Interface GUI with data collection. Successfully gather data and store as file.
Finish entire shelf design (in 1-2 weeks).
Update Gantt chart.
Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)
Remaining: 1883.35
Progress on Report and Webpage
Continually adding reference links as building Python GUI.