Foundations of Engineering

Pico Practice

Fast Flashing Light.mp4

Getting Picos to Blink at Different Speeds

We received a motherboard and USB cord. I connected it to an app called MU editor and played around with the code making it blink faster and slower.

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External LED Blinking

We plugged in a code into MU editor. The three wires we received went into GND and GP14 on the motherboard. I altered the code so that the internal and external lights would blink.

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Creating a Stop Light

By applying what I did in my last class, I was able to create a stoplight pattern with LED lights. I got red, yellow, and green lights and three wires that I plugged into GP11 and GP12 in addition to GP14. There were other GNDs on the motherboard to pair with the GPs. I put the code into MU editor and the lights created a stop light pattern.

Geometric Lamp

Sketches and Final Choice

I brainstormed shapes for my geometric lamp. The shapes are ordered on a scale that goes from easy to intermediate to advanced. I made the shapes 3D and was sure to keep a constant vanishing point.

I picked from the shapes that I drew and created a sketch for my final shape.

Cut List

Cut List on Inkscape

1st Cut

Assemble Parts

I took my final sketch and broke up the dimensions on a piece of graph paper. (1 in. = 4x4) To make the shapes visible, I traced over them with an orange marker. Based on my drawing, I replicated my design in Inkscape. It is through this platform that I could send the digital version to the Glowforge to be cut. After the cut, I made a few tweaks and taped my first prototype together.

Assembling Perfected Cardboard Prototype

I took the shapes that were cut out and assembled them using tape. I made sure that part of it is open so that there is space to work on the wiring for the lights. This is my perfect cardboard prototype.

My lamp will have three light patterns. The first one is inspired by its hourglass shape. The lights will turn on and off one by one until they reach the bottom, simulating an actual hourglass. The second pattern will alternate between the top and bottom triangles. They will blink one after the other quickly. My last pattern will have vertical rows light up one by one.

Planning Pattern

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Prototype Light Pattern

After using MU editor to create the patterns I received 16 yellow wires, 16 yellow lights, 16 orange, and purple GND wires, and 1 black GND wire. I wired the GND wires to the main black one and connected it to a GND spot on the motherboard. I then connected each yellow wire to the GP spots on the motherboard. I paired the GND and GP wires and added a LED light to them. I put the lights in their designated holes made on my cardboard prototype and ran my patterns. The cardboard pieces were made using Inkscape.

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Final Lamp

I went back to Inkscape and laser-cut the wooden pieces using Glowforge. I connected the pieces with wood glue but left the top open so I could wire the lamp. I moved the LED lights from my cardboard prototype to the wooden one and put the lights in their spots. Lastly, I glued the top piece on the rest of the lamp.

DIY Wooden Coasters

Drawn Coaster Design

This is a sketch of how I want my coaster to look. The sides are 3 3/4x 3 3/4. My coaster will be used mainly out of walnut wood with a pine wood stripe towards the side.

Walnut: (2 1/2) 1 1/2 + 5/8

Pine: (1/2) 5/8

Cut And Glue Pieces

I cut strips of walnut and pine wood and arranged my pattern. I then used wood glue and clamps to connect the pieces. The length is 15 inches. After running it through the planner saw I will cut it into fourths. The sides will be 3 3/4in by 3 3/4in.

Cut on Table Saw

After the glued wooden pieces dried, I used the table saw to cut four pieces. Each piece is a coaster. The measurements were 3 3/4in by 3 3/4in.

Scoring Design on Glowforge

I felt that the coasters were plain so I decided to add a design on them using the Glowforge. On Inkscape, I made a star figure, uploaded it to the Glowforge website, and then scored it on the coasters.

Router on Edges

I used the router to create indentions along the sides of the coaster as shown in the image.

Finished Coasters

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