Machine Week 2024
everything's connected but nothing's working !
0. Links !
Section | Working Repository (code, cad, etc) | Docs Repository (site source) | Docs Site |
---|---|---|---|
CBA | cba-machine | cba-site | CBA Section |
Harvard | harvard-machine | harvard-site | Harvard Section |
EECS | eecs-machine | eecs-site | EECS Section |
Architecture | architecture-machine | architecture-site | Architecture Section |
1. Your (Group) Task
Each section will design and build a "machine" - this means anything that includes mechanism, actuation, automation and application.
You'll get a kit of parts to do this, and we have an example linear axis and an example rotary axis that you can use as building blocks. We also have two example projects: a xylophone that plays itself and a small, very fast drawing machine. We also provide a set of modular hardware and software for motion control (requires a gitlab login) to help get things moving.
You should also document your machine and use git to collaborate a-la last year's examples:
Mechanism: mechanical degrees-of-freedom (DOF)
Stuff should move around!
Actuation: computer-controllable motion of the above DOFs
The motion should be computer controlled.
- Stepper Controllers (TODO: improve doc)
- Transmissions
Automation / Application software-coordinated computer-control of the above, to accomplish a task.
The motion should result in some desired outcome... maybe make something, draw something, change something, assemble something, sort something, cast a spell, etc.
2. Examples / Ideas
The machines you design and build don't need to be complicated - try to de-risk ideas early, and do stuff that "works right away" rather than complex projects that require hundreds of details to come together all at once in order to work. This can be fun; have fun.