Final Project Journal

Link:- Inspiration design  

Softwares 

Designing process

1- Open Fusion 360, save your file, and create a new component.

2- Name the first component, design one side, define it, extrude, and adjust its appearance.

Duplicate the first side.

3- Use projection across the two sides to draw the laptop’s top surface with accurate dimensions.

4- Draw the curved front edge of the laptop using projection, then extrude it.

5- Repeat the process for the flat front side using projection and extrusion.

6- Do the same for the back side of the laptop using projection and extrusion.

7- Create the laptop base using projection, add T-slots to connect it with all other sides, and extrude it.

8- Download all required electronic components from GRABCAD, import them into Fusion 360, and insert them into your design.

9-Project, assemble, and position the components with their proper dimensions.

10- Design slot openings to access the laptop’s face and include spaces for the infrared sensor, fan, and DHT sensor on the top.

11- Draw openings at the back to allow air circulation.

12- Join all the screws and nuts in the design. 

Software, Materials and Machines.  

Fabrication Process 

1- Export all files by selecting Create → Save as DXF for the laser cutter extension.

2- Select each side of the design and save it as a DXF file, repeating for all sides.

3= Open the files in RDWorks, set the cutting parameters to speed 30 and power 50.

4- Save the files in .rld format.

5- The lab specialist reviewed my design and suggested also saving it as .plt in case changes are needed later.

6- We finalized the cutting settings at speed 30 and power 50.

7- I re-downloaded and saved the file again.

8- Choose a wooden sheet, place it in the machine, and secure it from the sides.

9- Check and adjust the machine’s focus.

10- On the machine, press Esc, then File to select the design, and press Enter.

11-Use the arrows to move the laser head and check the exact cutting area.

12- Press Origin, then Frame to confirm the position.

13- Close the machine cover, press Start and let it cut the design. I repeated this process three times for all parts.

Softwares and wiring componets 

Process for wiring 

Fritzing wiring 

The power supply first sends 12V into the breadboard rails. From there, the fan receives power directly from the 12V line. At the same time, the converter is also connected to the same rails. The converter’s job is to take the 12V input and reduce it safely down to 5V. This 5V output is then used to power the Arduino and all the other components that need lower voltage, such as the IR sensor, the LCD, and the DHT sensor.

Powering the circuit

1- I used 12 v adaptor (power supply) to power the whole components.

2- I connect the positive and negative of the power supply to the rail of the breadboard then to the converter will reduce 12 V down to 5 V to power your Arduino and not to be burned on the same sides. 

3- The convertor pins: - VIN to positive & GND to GND on rail. 

4- VOUT to VIN on Arduino & GND to GND on Arduino.

Powering the fan

5- In the same place on the rail that has convertor pins, I connect the CM of relay to GND of the relay that will power the fan. 

6- NO to negative side of the fan.

7- Relay IN to pin 9 on Arduino 

8- Relay VR to positive 5v on the other side & GND to GND on the same side of rail

9- Positive fan to the positive of the rail of convertor that powered with 12 v. 

Powering the IR sensor 

1- GND with GND on the rail of 5v.

2- VCC to positive of 5v.

3- OUT to pin 4 on the Arduino.

Powering the DHT sensor

1- GND with GND on the rail of 5v.

2- VCC to positive of 5v.

3- Data pin to Pin 8 on the Arduino.

Powering the LCD 

1- GND with GND on the rail of 5v.

2- VCC to positive of 5v.

3- SDA pin to A 4 on Arduino.

4- SCL pin to A5 on Arduino.

Softwares 

Coding 

Summary for the action of code.

When the laptop is placed, the IR sensor will detect it and turn on the LCD, which displays the current temperature. If the temperature rises above 20°C, the fan will automatically turn on to cool it down. 

Pre setup

1- Open Arduino IDE then open empty sketch.

2 - Open File → Examples → DHT library → DHT tester 

3- Copy the code and paste edit 22 to be 11. 

4- Open File → Examples → Liquid crystals 12 c → Serial display as I already downloaded it before from library. 

5- Copy the preset up, void setup, void loop and add them to the previous part.

6- Change LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27,20,4);  to be  LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2); 

Define DHT sensor’s data wire is connected to Arduino pin 8.

Define the fan is connected to Arduino pin 9.

Define IR sensor’s output wire is connected to pin 4.

Void setup

1- Define FAN_PIN (9) as OUTPUT & IR PIN as INPUT. 

 lcd.init(); → turn LCD on

lcd.backlight(); → light up LCD

dht.begin(); → turn on temperature sensor

Serial.begin(9600); → open communication with computer

Void loop 

1- From DHT library 

float temp = dht.readTemperature();

The sensor sends back the reading in degrees Celsius by default. 

2- Open File → Examples → Control → If statement conditional.

3- Write if condition when the temperature more than 20 so the fan works and less than that it stops.

and when IR is low or nothing in front of it the LCD will be clear and when something in front of IR the LCD prints the temperature. 

References for my code: - 

Reference for code 1  

Reference for code 2 

1- Adjust the converter to supply 9 volts.

2- Test each component using example codes from the library.

3- Connect all wiring according to the Fritzing diagram.

4- Write the code as explained earlier, verify it, and prepare to upload.

5- Before uploading, double-check the connections and components.

6- Upload the code to the Arduino, then test all the components with the wiring.

7- Begin assembly from the bottom side, connecting the Arduino, relay, converter, and breadboard along with their wiring.

8- Mount the fan on the top side and secure the IR sensor and DHT sensor with screws.

9- Attach the LCD screen to the front short side and fix it firmly with screws.

10- Attach the power source to the converter, then distribute the output to the components. 

1- I consulted my colleagues about an application I could use to create my design, and they recommended Fritzing, even sharing the download link with me.  

2- My colleague also assisted me in adjusting the avometer’s power setting from 12 volts to 9 volts.

3- I had difficulty creating proper ventilation for the fan, and it was recommended to design slots in the centre as well as additional ones at the back, allowing air to flow in and out of the cooling laptop stand 

1- I had trouble working with the fan and DHT sensor because they consist of several parts, and whenever I tried to move them, the pieces would separate. My instructor explained that I should right-click on the component and use Rigid Groups to keep them together. 

2- I encountered another issue with attaching the DHT sensor to the design since it doesn’t have screw holes. My instructor suggested creating an additional piece at the back to secure it in place.