Final Project Journal

1. Designing the Box Structure : 

• I started by designing the sides of the box.

• The dimensions of each side are 233.5 mm in height and 220 mm in width (excluding the X slots).

• The X slots were designed with a thickness of 6 mm and included 3 mm cuttings for the slot.

• The tabs themselves have a height of 3 mm and a width of 85 mm, positioned at the top and bottom of the side panels.

2. Creating the Base :

• After designing the side panels, I designed the bottom base by projecting the tabs after joining them.

• The base dimensions are 240 mm x 240 mm.

3. Mounting Components

• I mounted the Arduino board and projected openings for nuts and nails to secure it and the arduino ports as well. 

• On the front side, I mounted the ultrasonic sensor and used an extrude cut to create its opening.

4. Designing the Feeding Tube

• I inserted a 3D tube into the model to guide the top cover's design.

The tube was created as follows:

• I started with two arcs: one with a radius of 170 mm and the other with a radius of 112 mm.

• I then extended the shape with a 70 mm straight line.

• On the perpendicular plane, I sketched two concentric circles with radii of 50 mm and 40 mm, then performed a sweep operation along the path created earlier.

5. Designing the Top Cover

• After inserting the 3D tube, I projected the opening and tabs to create the top cover.

• I designed a simple circular cover that can be manually rotated to keep the food fresh by sealing the top lid.

6. Designing the Front Cover

• The front part includes a movable cover controlled by a servo motor, which will regulate the food dispensing mechanism.

The project uses a 9V adapter as the primary power source. A voltage regulator is added to step down the voltage for the Bluetooth module and ultrasonic sensor, ensuring they operate safely at their required voltage levels.

First Stage : I worked on the electronics , after finishing the wiring and everything on the breadboard and made sure everything is well functioning. 

Second Stage : Assembling the model and mounting the components 

Yes, I asked for feedback during the design phase of the 3D-printed tube. Mohanad and Yasen suggested making the tube steeper so that the food could slide down more easily, which improved the dispensing efficiency.

Additionally, Rabab helped enhance the overall design by adding a cat image and text, making it look more visually appealing. Shokraan ya Ms. Rabab!

Challenges and Problem-Solving

Designing the 3D Tube:

• Initially, I watched a YouTube video to understand how to design the 3D-printed tube. After adjusting the design to fit the box model, I was later informed that it couldn't be printed as intended. Mohanad then suggested using a ready-made tube instead and designing a bracket to hold it in place, which was a more practical solution.

Ultrasonic Sensor Issues:

• I encountered problems with the ultrasonic sensor readings, which were inconsistent. After some research, I found that adding a resistor or a voltage divider to the echo pin could stabilize the readings and improve accuracy.

Lesson: 

• Before designing for 3D printing, confirm printability early on to avoid redesigning later.

• If an electronic component isn't working as expected, research voltage and wiring adjustments before assuming it's defective.

If I had more time, I would invest more effort in improving the design aesthetics to make it look nicer and more polished. Additionally, I would consider adding more features, such as a integrating weight sensors to track food levels automatically and letting the user control dispensing portions from the mobile phone.