CAD Design & Assembly

Part Files

The following parts must be designed in CAD and then assembled to create a digital prototype of your automata project. You will need to take accurate measurements of the kit you received in class to determine the size of the parts.

Cams
Box Parts
- Top of the box
  - 1/2" holes for follower bushings
- Left side of the box
  - 1/2" hole for axle bushing
- Right side of the box
  - 1/2" hole for axle bushing
- Bottom of the box
- Back of the box
Axle
Followers - Round (Rotational motion) or Square (linear motion)
Props - Can be 3D Printed or Laser Cut

Download Premade Automata Parts here

1.) Create Cams Using Motion Graph Data

Use the data created from your motion graph to create your cams.

Create new part file and start a 2D sketch on the XY plane
Use a 2 point center rectangle to create a .25" x .25" square at the origin
Use the line tool to draw lines to the correct distance at the specific angles you set those distances at in your motion graph
Use a spline tool or line tool to create the shape of your cam
Extrude your cam .25"
Save

2.) Measure & Create Box Parts

Measure the wooden box top, bottom, sides, and back
Create each box part as individual part files (5 total part files)

Note: You will need to include a 1/2" hole for the axle bushings and for the follower bushings on some of these parts

3.) Assemble CAD Box

Use free rotate and the constrain tools (mate & flush) to assemble your CAD box.

4.) Design Axle

1. Create a .25" x .25" rectangle

2. Extrude 6"

3. In order for your axle to rotate in your box, you will need to create a work axis.

Plane->Create midpoint between two planes->click left and right side of axle
Plane->Create midpoint between two planes->click top and bottom of axle
Axis->Select the two planes that you just created

5.) Design Followers

The length of the follower must be long enough to come out of the box and the follower bushing while leaving enough space for your prop to be attached.

Linear Followers (Square)

.25" x .25" x ?

Rotational Followers (Round)

.165" Diameter x ?

6.) Prop Design

Determine if you want a 3D-printed prop or a laser-engraved prop.

3D Printed

Create a part file for your prop. If you would like your prop to be multiple colors, design it that way! Each layer height should have a .04" extrusion difference for the color to not bleed through the layer above/below.

Different extrusion heights = Different colors

Laser Engraved

Create a 2D sketch of your desired laser engraving. Bring the sketch into a drawing file. Change the color of what you want cut to red, black lines will be engraved.

Automata.iam.pdf

7.) Create Drawing Sheet Set

Create a sheet set that includes a drawing file for each part you created for this project. Use the example to the left for dimension and view expectations.

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