Machine Week 2024
everything's connected but nothing's working !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.
Light Painting
Label Maker
Wire Cutter
Music Machines aka Clangers / Bangers
String / Floating Machines
Architecture-Scale / Space Transforming
Claw Machine
Robot Chainsaw Machine
Robot Basketball Hoop
3. Strategies
- teamworks!
- have a project manager
- divide into sub-teams, but talk often
- electronics / software
- mechanism
- documentation
- cad/cam ?
- prototype in cardboard, mechanisms can move 'by hand'
- commit to your vision (no backtracking)
- spiral development !
- document all the time, it should be one person's job !
- one page per team,
- note individual contributions on your page
4. Examples from this Kit
The Xylophone
Scara Arm [YouTube]
TODO
Framing
Belt Axis [CAD]
Kit [stl]
Leadscrew Axis
Assembly [CAD]
Kit [stl]
Rotary Axis
Kit [stl]
5. The Kit
Modular Things !
... Circuits
6. How to Start
- elect a contact-person (or dictator)
- have them contact us (Jake and Quentin) (contact info will be in a gitlab issue)
- convene a kickoff meeting, schedule it with us!
- we will bring your kit-of-parts to the meeting!