The idea of the assignment is to design, simulate and build a simple electronic device producing two outputs.
My idea for the assignment is to build a simple washing machine using can and cardboard.
Simulating program
Used components.
Breadboard
5V adapter
Jumper wires
Crocodile wires
Resistor 220 ohm
Red LED
5V DC motor
On/Off switch
Cardboard
Glue gun
Cutter
Cardboard cup
The device is a washing machine the input should be opening the switch and the outputs are lighting LED and movement of motor .
First, I decided to design a project consists of switch, motor and led so I tested the LED on the breadboard separately on the simulation then on the breadboard. The used adapter was 5V.
I used 5V adapter as all the components operate with 5V. The LED and the resistor, DC motor and switch all are operated with 5V.
Testing on Tinkercad
I added the motor to the circuit in parallel connection to ensure that the motor is in its best condition and tested it with the led.
The parallel connection is better as the used voltage is the same in all branches, if one component burn the other branches will be working and the total resistance in parallel is less than the smallest resistance in the circuit.
Connection of the motor in the circuit
After adding ensuring that the circuit is functioning well, I added the switch to the circuit.
Connecting the switch to the circuit
Simulation of circuit on Tinkercad
The implementation of the circuit divided into two parts. The first part is the testing part on the breadboard. The second part is the implementation on the cardboard to produce the final output.
Testing on breadboard
I tested the functionality of the LED and the resistor on the breadboard to make sure that jumper wires, LED, resistor, breadboard and the adaptor are working.
Testing voltage across the Branch
Testing voltage across the resistor
Testing voltage across the LED
After testing the LED, the motor was connected to the circuit.
The circuit was the LED and the resistor are connected series so this branch was connected optimally with the motor.
Voltage across the motor
Voltage across the LED and resistor branch
The last step was to add the switch to the circuit and test its functionality.
Final circuit diagram
Final circuit diagram video
Enclosure time
1- I cut the cardboard into six sides 12*12cm.
2- I glued 3 sides with each other.
3- I cut a cardboard cup into two pieces, one for the shaft and the other is enclosure to it.
4- I made the door of the washer.
5- The switch and the LED were mounted on the face of the washer.
6- The LED and the resistor were linked together in series.
7- Mounting the motor in its place.
8- Finally, I started to connect the wires.
6 sides 12*12 cm
3 parts are glued together
The shaft part
Enclosure of the shaft
The hinge of the door
Hinge mounted to the door
Final shape of the door
Final shape for the face
Connection of LED and resistor
Mounting LED in the cardboard chases
Mounting LED in the cardboard chases
Mounting the motor
Mounting the motor
Mounting the LED
Testing the LED and motor.
The final test before full enclosure
Final product
Final product
Final product
Final product
Final product
There are some challenges that faced me. The first one is that the place of the switch of the circuit.
The place of the switch was before the circuit taking the power to operate the circuit. This place is no the right place for the switch. The right place is between the circuit and the ground to form an open circuit.
The switch before the circuit
The switch after the circuit
The second challenge was issue at switching the circuit. When the switch is connected to the circuit, the motor was only the component actuated.
This was because the resistor and the wires of the motor and the switch was not connected on the same node.
The wrong connection
The right connection
The third challenge was mounting the DC motor in its place. As the DC motor is not grounded on the floor so it needs something to mount it.
I mounted it by a box cover to mount it in its place.
Motor without hinge
Motor with hinge
I learned to check the functionality of every component and to apply divide and conquer technique.
We learned to make manual H-bridge and we knew its disadvantges.
We played sumo cars at the end of the session and it was so fun. Also my team won the competition.
Victory