Week 5 - Journal

Ideation

Tell us about your assignment's idea for this week. Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you? (Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)

This week's assignment was Abooout...

Design, simulate, and build a simple electronic device that performs two actions"

I started the task by googling and thinking about a useful device, I got my hands on this video and I like the idea.

I started googling more and I found some products that do the same task

I was very interested in this machine because I tried creating something similar when I was a kid xD and I got this burn scar in my hand when I was trying to pour the melted sugar.. I didn't fully success back then.

Tool Chain

Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?

Electrical Components

5v adaptor

5v Motor

On & Off switch

Lots of wires

250 MOhms Resistor

Yellow LED, ( yes yellow!, I guess I burned all red LED ;( XD)

breadboard

Recycled Plastic Container

Thinker cad for designing the circuit

Design/Preparation Process

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?

I started by brain storming and listing all the components I need, and how the device will function.

The similar devices has a thermostat inside them that heat the sugar to it's melting point, 186.111°C but I don't have access to thermostat and I guess it's working on AC electricity so I decided to melt the sugar by myself and pour it into a rotating place so that it makes cotton candy.

The device will include two actions:

A rotating motor to throw the sugar at the sides to make the cotton candy, and an LED light to indicate it's working.

The circuit components will be:

5V Motor
5V power adaptor
Yellow LED
ON/OFF Switch
Wires
250 MOhms Resistor
breadboard

I decided to use a 5V Power adaptor because the motor is 5V, this is the maximum voltage I need to operate.

Also I decided that I will connect the motor and the led in parallel to operate them at the same time if I connect them in series the voltage will drain out and just one will work.

You can View the cricket simulation on thinkercad using this "link"

Development/Implementation 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?

VID_20250202_121608.mp4

I started by prototyping the circuit on a breadboard, wired all components. and I took a video for my test:

I made sure to connect all components in parallel, so that everything work smoothly and not to drain the voltage for just one component.

I used female and male wire connectors. and alligator hooks to setup everything in place, used mini switch for testing purposes.

Then I made a slot in the plastic container for the wire, switch and led, then I inserted the components in.

Then I attached the motor to an old metal cap I had, so the melted sugar will go on it from the other side.

I assembled the parts together inside the plastic container, wired the connections just as in thinkercad.

Then I cutted the container cover, and inserted it on top, so it protect all components down there

and here is the final look! I will insert more pics and videos soon, as I didn't have time to operate it :p

here is a video test for everything in place:

VID_20250202_152645.mp4

And here is the final output:

HnVideoEditor_2025_02_03_131358525.mp4

It could be so much better using all metal but I couldn't access a metal container this big

Some cotton candy we ate 😋

Overcoming Challenges

When you got stuck, what/who did you turn to? At what point did you have to pause to research or learn more before moving on? What are some mistakes, pitfalls, or challenges that others can avoid if they were doing this assignment?

One of the huge challenges I faced was with the breadboard. I didn't know that it's not connected at the top side. I spend a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT of time figuring out why the circuit isn't working. I kept trouble shooting with AVO meter why the cricket wasn't working, connecting wires and disconnecting them, until I figured out the problem.

To solve this I connected the middle part together so that I don't fall in this again.

Final Project

How can you use the skills and knowledge that you've acquired this week in your final project?

It it's the core of my project, will help me connect and wire electric inside components together to make the main core of the project.

WOW!

What is the coolest thing that you've learned this week? What is something that you will never forget from this week?

The coolest thing that happed this weeeeek was the SUMO CAR we created! It WAS AWEEESOME.

The Battle was intense and cool. We won the 1st on U3 group but unfortunately we didn't win over all other groups. if we just had some more time to make everything in a perfect way, our tranky sumo car would have destroyed 'em all HAHAHA 😈🤣

Weekly Digest [OPTIONAL]

Tell us about any other cool things that you've made this week: in the Hands-on activity, tutorial examples, exercises, or any other cool mini-project that you tried out aside from the assignment.

MY First Wire and Switch this weeeek :D

VID_20250120_191637.mp4

Thanks to Abdurrahman, I learned nesting this week.

As I'm a green participant, saving material and waste management is a crustal thing for the environment.

Extra week events! - wait for updates soon

More Lettuce grow up

☘️😍

waiting for the next Lettuce generation

☘️😋

I received the full electronic kit,, sooo Excited 😍😍🚀

I made an upgrade to my balcony, brought a grass matt and fliped it and put soil in it all along the balacony... I want to plant mooore ☘️

Design Software

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