3D Modelling & Printing

3D modelling

Initially, I found the 3D modelling process very difficult.

I had to come up with a design that enables the user to have access to either 2 switches or all 7 switches. (This is because the medical staff will have access to all 7 switches to configure the device and the patient can use only 2.)

Initially I thought of a slide on cover, which can be used to hide the other 5 buttons from the patient.

I could draw a 3d model of the box on a sheet of paper. However, drawing the design on Creyo Parameter was more difficult than it looks.

In the end, I had to simplify my design.

Draft1

This was my first draft of the AlarmRing, it had a separate section for the batteries, away from the main Arduino circuit. This design had very thick walls and the separation wall made the device wider. One design consideration I needed to have was the size of the device. If it is too bulky, the elderly patient would find it troublesome to carry around. I scratched of this model and tried a new model.

Model 1

This was the first 3D design that I printed out and tested. I decided to make the casing as a box with a cover that has 2 buttons. Removing the cover would give the medical staff access to all 7 buttons.

Model 2

I realized that model 1 was too small to fit in my external components, such as the speaker, RTC and batteries. Therefore, I increased the length of the casing design for M2.

However, another problem arose, after removing the support stand from M2, the LCD screen protector platform was too thin and was not printed properly.

Model 3

Increasing the thickness of model 2 lead me to create model 3. I went on to print the base box.

Base

I had to be very precise when measuring the screw points on the base.

After printing out the box, I found that it was a few millimeters too large for the lid to fit.

Model 4

I designed M4 to have deeper extrusions (inward cuttings). I also ensured that the thickness was increased, to avoid the same mistake I made in M2.

Model 5 - Final

M4 was already able to fit into the base perfectly. However, I noticed that the button holes had to be repositioned because they were not in line with the buttons on the LCD board.

Buttons (3D print)

It was difficult printing out the buttons as they were very small. The 3D printing machine has a thick point tip and the smallest circle it could print perfectly had a 6mm diameter. I decided to find another way to create the buttons.

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