Week 4 - 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)

I started to think about making a simple device with the available components, and I decided to make a siren using a motor and LEDs.

Tool Chain

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

For simulating the circuit: TinkerCad
Components: hobby Motor - LEDs - 2x330 ohm resistance - breadboard - ON OFF switch - jumpers & crocodiles
Materials: Scrap cardboard box as container for components - zip ties to mount the motor to the box - toothpick and paper to make the rotating part - a cup to make siren-like effect.

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?

Voltage source: 9V dc adaptor as hobby motor needs 9V to operate.

Action components: LEDs and motor

Circuit description: Circuit consists of a DC power source (9V) that is connected to the input of the switch, and the output of the switch is connected to two branches (in parallel).

The first branch for the motor and the second branch contains 2 LEDS and 2x330 ohm resistance (all components in the second branch connected in series).

Circuit calculations: For each one of both branches the voltage is 9V , For the LEDs branch we have to add resistance so we divide the voltage by the maximum current for LED which is 2 mA (9/.02 = 450). So I decided to go with 2x330 ohm resistance to be on safe side.

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?

Circuit is connected just like the simulation on TinkerCad, and after that I started to make holes on the box for LEDs and switch, The motor is mounted using zip-tie

VID_20210824_112928.mp4

Learning from Mistakes

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?

At some point, when the motor is working the LEDs are off and vice cersa, So I started to troubleshoot the circuit, and found that there is a mistake in the wires and after that every thing was fine.

Community of Learning

Did you ask for feedback? What are the ideas that others have contributed or suggested? What was someone else’s idea that you built upon? How did you help your peers? How did your peers help you?

Something that helped me in mounting components to the box is making a plan for the order of mounting components to the box, because there are many steps built on the previous ones, so we have to take our time to determine the order in which components are mounted to the container.

Final Project