Engineer Concepts
YEAR 2
YEAR 2
This project was introduced on September 17, 2019. Students were told that it would be much more challenging than their previous project (making a wooden enclosure). This project required students to work on their coding skills, laser printing, and teamwork. The first page in the image carousel is the project title page. The second page consists of the main constraints for the Moire Sculpture. The third page is a honeycomb sheet with all project benchmarks (skill building + project milestones).
The goal of this benchmark was for students to learn about gear rules. They learned that two gears (that are in contact with one another) will always rotate in the opposite direction. To combat this, you must insert a third gear in between the two gears.
The goal of this benchmark was to teach students about an additional gear rule. In order to find a gear that rotates at 2x speed, it must be 2x larger than the other gear. In order to do this step, I counted the number of teeth each gear had.
The goal of this benchmark was to teach students the basics of the laser printer. They had to input the font and shape themselves and position the cardboard to create a good design. Students learned that by changing the size, font style, and shape the time to laser print changes.
Before coding the RGB pattern, students listened to a tutorial on the proper setup for the breadboard and motherboard. To complete this project milestone, students had to code an arduino to blink in an RGB pattern. Many students had difficulty with this part and teamwork + collaboration was a major factor in completing this benchmark.
To complete this benchmark, students had to code a servo to rotate both left and right. This benchmark proved to be a challenge for many students, so many people had to work together to complete it. Students gained a valuable lesson in both team-work and coding throughout the process of completing this benchmark.
Laser Cut a Pumpkin with Yellow, Orange, and Red LEDS
This benchmark required multiple steps in order to get a stamp. First, students had to design a pumpkin using the CAD program, Inkscape. Once they had this design on Inkscape, students had to use the Full Spectrum Laser to print out this design on cardboard. After this step, students had to code their LEDs to blink YOR (yellow, orange, red) rather than RGB (red, green, blue).
Perpendicular Servo Mount
This benchmark required students to use their now-advanced Inkscape skills to create a rectangular servo mount. For many students, using the measurement tool proved to be a challenge, but with the help of teamwork the benchmark was completed.
Moire Designs 1 & 2 Complete
This benchmark required students two design two different moires that met the requirements. The moires needed to have both repetition of form and at the same radial distance.
Gear Box Two Independently Rotating Disks on One Shaft
For this benchmark, students needed to use their knowledge of gear rules to make two rotate independently on one shaft. In this benchmark, many students used a model for reference.
All Cardboard Pieces Cut Out
For this benchmark, students were required to use the Full Spectrum Laser to cut 6 different designs. This process (from start to finish) took about 30 minutes.
Two Servos + One LED
This benchmark required students to program two servos and one LED to be controlled by one servo all at the same time. This benchmark required students to call upon their prior knowledge from the RGB LED and rotating servo left and right.
Moire 1 Created on CAD
For this benchmark, students were able to use their skills on Inkscape or Solid works in order to laser print their first moire design. Before printing, students needed to acquire a piece of cardboard about 11 x 11 to fit their design.
Moire 2 Created on CAD
Both Moire benchmarks required that students have their design approved. In order to get both designs approved students needed to show that their design had repetition of form.
Moire 1 Printed out on Cardboard
This benchmark required students to have their design prepped and ready on CAD before uploading to the Full Spectrum Laser. Many designs took 7+ minutes to print out so students had to budget their time wisely.
Moire 2 Printed out on Cardboard
This benchmark required students repeat the steps from their first cardboard moire design. Once again, students needed to work on their time management skills to ensure they had a place in the Full Spectrum Line.
Final Kinetic Sculpture Prototype Codes
This code tells the viewer how to wire their Arduino, how to wire both servos to the Arduino, and how to wire the LEDs to the Arduino. The beginning three lines of code tell the user which pin to wire each leg of the LED to. The middle portion of code tells the servos how fast to rotate, which direction, and to rotate independently of one another. The last part of code tells the LEDs which colors to blink (white, magenta, cyan).
int redPin = 11;
int greenPin = 10;
int bluePin = 9;
//uncomment this line if using a Common Anode LED
#define COMMON_ANODE
#include <Servo.h>
Servo myservo;
Servo myservo2;
void setup()
{
pinMode(redPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(greenPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(bluePin, OUTPUT);
myservo.attach(13);
myservo.write(90); // set servo to mid-point
myservo2.attach(8);
myservo2.write(90); // set servo to mid-point
}
void loop()
{
setColor(255, 255, 255); // white
delay(1000);
setColor(255, 0, 255); // magenta
delay(1000);
setColor(0, 255, 255); // cyan
delay(1000);
void RGB_color(int red_light_value, int green_light_value, int blue_light_value)
{
analogWrite(red_light_pin, red_light_value);
analogWrite(green_light_pin, green_light_value);
analogWrite(blue_light_pin, blue_light_value);
myservo.write(180); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo.write(0); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo2.write(180); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo2.write(0); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
}
Solidworks Screenshots
Solidworks was a key tool for students, in that the program acted as a guide. Solidworks showed students the proper way to assemble their kinetic sculpture. I used the exploded view which allowed me to click and drag pieces away from the main model body to see the order in which they were supposed to go. Students could also use Solidworks to make sure they had the correct number of pieces necessary for prototype assembly. The Solidworks file needs to have bigger holes for both the LEDs, the bearings, and servos. The modified pieces need to be an exact fix because wood is not as flexible as cardboard (to wiggle the pieces in). I need to add a second circle to my second moire so that the big gaping hole has a smaller hole the dowel can rotate inside. I recommend changing the size of the middle dowel to change aesthetic of the final product. In most prototype the dowel ran through the entire design. I recommend that it be thinner and shorter so it fits perfectly.
Functional Cardboard Kinetic Sculpture Paragraph
The purpose of a functional prototype is to tell the engineer that their project is working properly before the purchase of expensive materials. The cardboard material we used in the gears ended up falling apart when the servos were operating. Every time the gears came into contact, the teeth ended up crumbled, broken, or falling off completely. This issue will be resolved by using wood instead of flimsy cardboard.
New Benchmark Sheet
Install Servos (at least two screws each)
This benchmark was the first for students to complete on the new honeycomb sheet. Students needed to have their servos properly inserted into their acrylic to get a stamp.
Moire 1 Cut on the Glowforge
This benchmark required students to import their designs from Inkscape or Solidworks and laser print them on the Glowforge.
Moire 2 Cut on the Glowforge
This benchmark was akin to the previous one. Students repeated the same process for their second moire.
Servos Do Three Distinct Motion Patterns
For this benchmark, students were required to use several skills learned in prior benchmarks. First they had to use the knowledge they gained from wiring and coding double servos. After that, they needed to change the delay times and degree of rotation to create distinct separate motion patterns.
Code Used
//uncomment this line if using a Common Anode LED
#define COMMON_ANODE
#include <Servo.h>
Servo myservo;
Servo myservo2;
void setup()
{
myservo.attach(3);
myservo.write(90); // set servo to mid-point
myservo2.attach(5);
myservo2.write(90); // set servo to mid-point
}
void loop()
{
myservo.write(180); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo.write(0); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo.write(90); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo.write(-90); // set servo to mid-point
delay(3000);
myservo2.write(-180); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo2.write(180); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo2.write(10); // set servo to mid-point
delay(2000);
myservo2.write(45); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
myservo2.write(-90); // set servo to mid-point
delay(1000);
}
Install Your Arduino onto Your Middle Acrylic Using Screws
For this benchmark students used the smallest drill bit size (1/16) in order to drill a hole in their middle acrylic. Then students searched screw the box of tiny screws to find two screws that would secure their Arduino to their middle acrylic.
Install & Solder 8 LEDs
This benchmark required students to install and solder 8 RGB LEDs in their middle acrylic. Additionally, they had to code these LEDs in a red, green, blue light pattern.
Independent Rotating Moire
This benchmark requires students use their knowledge of wiring + coding double servos and independently rotating gears on one shaft. For this benchmark to be complete, students need both their gear box and servos set up correctly.
3 Acrylic Layers
This benchmark required students to print all three acrylic layers using the Glowforge machine. Students used dowels to secure the layers in place.
3 Repeated Light Patterns
This benchmark required students to use their knowledge of RGB LEDs and wiring to code three repeated light patterns. For extra credit, students could code a fade into their pattern.
Kinetic Sculpture Final Code
I saved my Final Moire Kinetic Sculpture code for future safekeeping.