Week 5- Journal

Task's idea

This week's task is to design, simulate, and build a simple electronic device that performs two actions.

This device may serve a need at home or just fun to build

I got my inspiration from the famous Marvel character "Iron man", so I decided to build an Iron man cardboard model with laser-shooting arm

Tools

Electric circuit components:

Jumper wires
crocodile wires
9V adaptor
breadboard
resistors
LEDs
DC motor
ON/OFF switch
screw driver
DC Jack to terminal block converter
Avometer for troubleshooting.

Mounting and Enclosure tools:

Cardboard
Glue gun
Tape
Mounting tape
Cutter
Straws
Wooden sticks
Scissors
cutting board
Pencil and ruler.

I used Tinkercad web app to design and simulate my circuit.

Design and Simulation

Explain the design and/or preparation process of your assignment. How did you use the tool or software to design and/or prepare your assignment before fabrication/implementation?

STEP 1

Open Tinkercad and click on create tab and select circuit

STEP 2

Use the bar on the right to search for the components

Search for the first component "breadboard" then drag it

STEP 3

Then drag the rest of the components of the circuit

power supply
2 LEDs red and white
2 resistors
1 DC motor
Push button.

My output components are:

DC Motor

Red LED

White LED

STEP 4

Connect the power supply to the lower row of breadboard

I used 9V power supply

STEP 5

Connect the red LED to the breadboard

STEP 6

Now, connect the second white LED tp the breadboard.

STEP 7

Now, connect the DC motor to the circuit

STEP 8

Make sure the LEDs are wired correctly

So now all our output components are connected in parallel

STEP 9

Tag the push button along the circuit.

STEP 10

Our circuit is now done click simulate

After simulation the LEDs light up and the motor starts spinning🎉

simulation video

Here's the link to my circuit on Tinkercad: circuit link

Development Process:

Explain the development/implementation process of your assignment. How did you use the machine/tool to manufacture or implement the design of your assignment?

STEP 1

Prepare all the electric circuit components to build the circuit.

STEP 2

Build the circuit as designed on Tinkercad. After powering the circuit, the LEDs are connected in parallel with the DC motor and the On/Off switch is tagged along the circuit.

IMG_3647.mov

STEP 3

Press the On switch, the circuit is working perfectly.

Before making the cardboard enclosure, I moved my circuit to a smaller breadboard in order to be able to mount it.

I pressed the On switch, the circuit is still working perfectly.

IMG_3662.mov

STEP 4

Start making the cardboard enclosure with the right dimensions to hold the circiut.

STEP 5

Make joints of the arms and head parts using straws and wooden sticks like this:

The wooden stick rotates within the straw to form the joint.

The wired DC motor passes through an opening in the cardboard enclosure.

The straw is then glued to the cardboard.

STEP 6

Now it's time to make the arm part using cardboard and mount its components:

Cylinder cardboard arm part is made.

The motor is inserted in the arm part.

Connecting the motor to its attachment using a piece of straw. It was the same size. (Don't use glue gun with electric components.)

STEP 7

Put the electric circuit components in place

Breadboard is mounted and fixed using tape.

The LEDs are mounted and fixed in place

Now, fix and glue the rest of the parts.

Here is the final result🎉

IMG_3707.mov

Overcoming Challenges

What kinds of challenges or problems did you face while doing the assignment, tutorials, or exercises? How did you solve them? Did you ask for help from an instructor or peer? Please provide a link to the tutorial or article that you used to solve your problem (if any)

A challenge I faced was when I built the circuit on my breadboard exactly like it showed here on Tinkercad and found the motor only working . The LEDs didn't work.

I used the Avometer for troubleshooting

All the left segments components didn't work and the Avometer reading was 0

the right segment components "the motor" were working and the Avometer reading was nearly 8V

The problem was because this septum in the middle separated the connection between the right and left rows, so you have to place your components either on the right or on the left part.

When I did so, everything "the motor and LEDs" worked perfectly.

IMG_3647.mov

the project's electrical circuit

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