To begin the Engineering Design Method I course, we jumped right into learning how to use software and hardware. To software we learned was Corel Draw, and the hardware was the laser cutter. With the instruction of our teacher, we designed boxes on Corel Draw that were to be laser cut on cardboard. Included is a screenshot of my design from Corel Draw and my final cut box. As an optional feature, we were allowed to add designs on the walls of the box that would be engraved. I chose to add pictures of silhouettes of celebrities Zendaya and Cardi B, though ended up not engraving the designs and cutting the box itself. Because of a vector error, my box was cut with a window in one of the sides. To personalize my box and fill the gap, I decided to take a photo with my Polaroid camera and insert it. Below you can view a screenshot of my Corel file and the final boz itself.

After learning how to make the tabbed box, we were given the task of laser cutting our own designs, optionally involving the skills we just learned. For this personalized project, I chose to create a mail organizer. Using Corel Draw, I designed the shelves and walls of the organizer, and finally, cut it on the laser cutter. The first cut I made was almost exact, though the back wall of the organizer was one material length too small. Although it fit with the other pieces, there were some gaps I wanted to fill. I altered the back wall and re-cut it, and found that it still was a material length too small. Not wanting to waste more materials, I kept the piece with my final project but edited it once more in Corel. Below is my design, and the final product.

During the second unit, we learned how to make stickers using the vinyl cutter. Using the same software from laser cutting, Corel Draw, we were able to design a simple sticker. To get some ideas, I went on Google Chrome for some inspiration, and found a star pattern that I fancied. To make it my own, I added my name and attempted to curve it around the star design to complete my sticker. Below is my design in Corel Draw, the sticker after it was cut on the vinyl cutter, and the final product as shown on my laptop at home!

Concluding our usage of all the basic hardware involved learning how to use the 3D printers. The 3D printers in our lab are Lulzbots. We were introduced to a new software called Autodesk Fusion 360, which opened a window of opportunities to designing objects to 3D print. I wanted the object I 3D printed to be useful and simple, so I decided on bookends. My design was not complicated and did not take long to create. Below, you can view my project in Autodesk Fusion 360. When printing it, I decided to print a small model first to ensure that my design would work. You can see this model below as well.

To begin with electronics, we jumped into learning how to solder. After practicing soldering resistors to circuit boards, each student received a brain game project with instructions, called a Mini Velleman-Kit Brain Game. Over the course of several days, we put together the kits. Though the instructions took some time to decode, everything ran smoothly until one of the final steps. After attaching the battery pack to the circuit, we needed to use wires to connect the energy flow from the battery pack to the circuit. The directions showed a different picture than the actual circuit, so we had to work around the step and use our own resources to complete the game. In addition, the first time I put together my circuit I realized one of the diodes was facing the wrong direction. To fix this, I learned how to use the solder sucker tool to take out the diode. After putting everything back together, I placed batteries into the pack and found that my circuit worked! Below, you can view the instructions to build the game, my final product, and a video of it in action. The game is similar to "Simon Says", as you can see in the video.

When brainstorming for my final project, I had to think of an idea that was useful and followed the requirements we were given. Each student had to brainstorm and come up with three project ideas, and narrow those ideas down to one idea that had to be approved. My project ideas included a gumball machine, a marble binary counter mechanism, and a binary city clock. After meeting with my teacher and doing more research on each project, I decided creating the binary city clock, based on the tutorial by La Fabrique DIY. As a requirement, our teacher gave us a spreadsheet outline to plan our project accordingly and document our progress along the way. In the "Time Line" portion, I documented what I did each day, listed the materials I needed for my project, and wrote down milestones for my project.

Additionally, we were given design specification consideration questions, which are answered here in my portfolio.

1) What do you want your project to do?

My functioning project should be able to tell the time in binary, while having a unique and modern look.

2) What is the maximum that you want to spend?

I would not like to spend any money on this project, but will instead use the resources at the FabLab to create it.

3) What are the dimensions of your project?

The final project will be approximately 15 cm x 15 cm x 25 cm.

4) What materials do you use?

For my project, I will use cardboard, LED's, resistors, and an Arduino Uno.

5) Will your project be inside or outside?

My project will be inside.

6) Will your project be portable?

No, by project will remain indoors and will have to be plugged into a computer through USB.

7) Will your project connect to the Internet?

For my project to work, it will need to have a 5V power supply through a USB to a computer. It will be coded using Arduino and therefore will need internet for the code to be downloaded.

8) Will your project use Bluetooth?

No, my project will not use Bluetooth.

9) How does your project different from the project that inspired you?

My project will have a different design than the one based on the tutorial. I will design my own apartment cover in order to make the project my own.

10) Are the tools you need for the project found in the FabLab?

Yes, I have all the tools I need in the FabLab.

Additionally, I took pictures to visualize my progress. The journey of my project can be viewed below.

My first prototype was a scrap piece of cardboard with some LED's poked through. The purpose of this prototype was to create a working prototype and ensure that the code worked before creating the final prototype. I followed the Instructables tutorial and soldered wires and resistors to the LED's.

When it came to the code, I ran into some problems. The code was provided on GitHub, but when I downloaded it to Arduino and attempted to verify it, it came up with some errors. To trial and error, I deleted the lines that had errors, and as a result, two LED's in my prototype lit up.

After changing the code and altering it for several days, I decided I should go ahead and laser cut the outside of my final product. In the future, if I was to remake this project or finalize it more, I would laser cut tabs in the sides and make it out of plywood. My cardboard final shows the 16 "windows" that will be in front of the LED's.

After soldering wires and resistors, I soldered wires to each of the resistors that would connect to the pins on the Arduino.

My next challenge was adding decorations and personalizing my project. Because it was based off of my own apartment, I 3D printed roofs for the bottom row of my building and laser-cut balconies. The above video shows the start of my 3D print and the picture shows the addition of the balconies.

Once I made sure the LED's worked, I got a special acrylic from my teacher that would project the lights. In the beginning, I was going to individually cut rectangular pieces for each window, but I ended up using the acrylic strips for the the two rows in the middle. With the leftover acrylic, I glued them inside the outside columns to the bottom rows. As you can see, on the bottom rows are me 3D printed pieces: roofs.

After working with the code for a bit, my clock still was not reading the correct time. Instead of keeping it a binary clock, I decided to make it into a nightlight. In the future, I would add a light sensor so the lights would turn on when it was dark.