Paper Queen - Week V

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 inspired by the Spinning Pinwheels.

Colorful, rotating toys typically made of paper, the way they "twist and turn" creates a playful movement,

I wanted to generate the spinning movement by attaching an electric motor to the center of the pinwheel. The motor will replicate the wind's force and cause the pinwheel to spin smoothly, just like the natural movement caused by a breeze

Tool Chain

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

Software

TinkerCAD

Components

Breadboard

Resistors

Crocodile/Alligator Wires

Jumper Wires

LEDs

DC Motor

ON/OFF Switch

5V Adapter

Tools and Materials

Paper Scraps

Cardboard

Electric Tape

Scissors & Cutter Knife

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?

Digital circuit on TinkerCAD

Components list:

I used 6 mixed colors LED to add a playful vibe.
LED colors: 2 Red, 2 Blue and 2 Yellow
6 Pcs resistors; 220 OHM. One resistor for each LED.
Double shaft DC Motor to power the spinning movement.
LEDs and DC Motor are both OUTPUTs
Next, I used an ON/OFF switch as an INPUT component.
Lastly, I used 5V adapter as a power source for my circuit. DC motor requires 5V current, while LED requires around 2V; hence comes the resistor rule to limit the current.

Electric circuit OFF state

Electric circuit ON state

Circuit simulation on TinkerCAD

Connections:

6 LEDs are wired in Parallel connection.
DC Motor is wired in Parallel connection.
ON/OFF switch is connected in Series connection.

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?

Electric circuit on Breadboard

I wired the 6 LEDs and 6 resistors on the breadboard using jumper wires.
I used the same wiring technique to connect the DC motor.
Connected the 5V power source to test the wiring, everything was operating as expected.
Later on, I wired the on/off switch in series connection.

LEDs and resistors wired on breadboard using jumper wires

6 LEDs and DC Motor in action

Mounting circuit onto cardboard

I used the Hexagonal Prism paper model that I created for week III, as the base design for my project.
I folded two pinwheels from black paper scraps in my studio.
I started mounting the LEDs and DC Motor on the hexagonal prism.
I reused a cardboard box I had from another project, and turned it into a base for this project. I placed all my wires and breadboard inside the box and put the hexagonal prism on the box's lid.
I created two holes on the lid to mount the on/off switch and the adapter socket.

LEDs mounting on paper polygon using electric tape

6 LEDs in action

LEDs and DC Motor in parallel connection

On/OFF switch and power source in series connection

ON/OFF switch and power source cardboard mounting

Full project assembled

Final output:

Top view

Side view (1)

Side view (2)

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?

I wired the on/off switch in parallel connection, so it wasn't functioning.

I posted the challenge on slack, and I received notes from colleagues and instructors to rewire the switch using the series connection.

And it worked!

Before

After

Final Project

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

Learning how to design an electric circuit and explore both types of connections (series and parallel), will be extremely beneficial for my final project.

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