After a long break, we are back to work! During the winter break, our team made the most of our time by securing all the necessary parts for our project. By January 16th, we were excited to receive the Noctua Fans and L-12 Actuonix actuator, initiating our Milestone 3. Currently, we're diligently following our Gannt Chart to stay on track, especially as we anticipate potential coding challenges ahead.
Gerardo has completed the 3D printing of the casing, allowing us to assess the placement of the actuator and wiring visually. The 3D-printed casing aligns with the frame as per the measurements, with only half of the frame printed due to limitations in the dimensions of the printing bed.
Vent Casing
Firstly, we aim to enable the products to move through coding position and time delays. Once achieved, we'll proceed to integrate the remote control functionality:
Move the actuator using writeMicroseconds and/or write(pos) - Completed 1/27
Incorporate the remote to control actuators - Completed 2/1
Code for a button to move the linear servo to a specific location.
Code for multiple buttons to move the linear servo to specific locations.
Adjust the fan speed - Completed 1/31.
Incorporate the fans for use with the actuator - Completed 2/1
Safety code for fans to only operate when the vents are open.
Video with remote in frame.mp4 (Video with functioning coding)
Wiring Schematics: TinkerCAD and Physical
Following a productive one-on-one session with our advisor, we've received valuable recommendations. Firstly, we're conducting a Vibration Analysis using COMSOL to ensure that our device can withstand vibrations induced by the fans, especially at specified power settings. Additionally, we've learned that the fans come equipped with rubber ends to help dampen vibrations, which we'll utilize if necessary.
Coding can be seen below
As we approach milestone 3’s deadline on February 19th, our team is focused on achieving a functional prototype for testing. According to our Gannt chart, all coding tasks were scheduled for completion by February 1st, which we successfully achieved.
Following this milestone, our focus will shift to mounting the fans, fan mount, actuator, actuator mount, and setting up the temporary Arduino arrangement. In a strategic decision, the team has opted to combine Task 4 and Task 5, recognizing that the wiring organization depends on the placement of each part.
With everything securely positioned, we'll enter the critical phase of function testing. This phase involves meticulously controlling the linear servo and fans using a remote control to ensure smooth operation. Any necessary revisions to the code will be promptly implemented to guarantee optimal performance. The team strategically opted to complete the coding tasks in the latter half of January to prevent conflicts during assembly, ensuring that only minor edits are needed on the coding side, thus streamlining the process.
As per Dr. Agrawal's recommendation, a significant obstacle we foresee is conducting a vibration analysis for our device, particularly regarding the brackets holding down our fan. This wasn't initially factored into our schedule for the semester. To address this, some team members are exploring using COMSOL for the analysis. In the meantime, we plan to rely on the rubber overlay provided with the fans to dampen vibrations during assembly and testing until our analysis provides further insight.
Another consideration is the potential flexing of the frame due to the movement of the linear servo. Although the linear servo is attached to the existing lever, the path it follows on the lever is not straight, resulting in some resistance during movement. This resistance could lead to the frame flexing over time. To address this issue, we propose mounting the servo in a way that allows it to rotate on its axis.
Path of Linear Servo from Closed to Open and Free Spin Mounting Point.
Our team's original anticipated obstacle was the coding section, which was successfully completed according to schedule.
Coding:
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