Ah! and the cycle of iteration continues. I have realized how much I was underestimating the time and resources required to pull off building an entire functional robot in middle of the semester. Anyhow, this was interesting tradeoffs which helped me zeroed in on my final build shape form. I have decided to build a 5 DOF robotic arm for which the CAD part is completed and I am planning to optimize the arms for the additively manufacturing. Also, the stepper motors have been ordered…

The progress that I have made on my final project is primarily in the virtual sense. I have already had the 1st iteration of my Strandbeest leg done. This iteration was creating simple leg segments and assembling them in SolidWorks in a 2D layout. This allowed me to see how the segments interact with each other and gave me a general idea of the size of the final product. 1st iteration – Angled view   1st iteration – Front View   After the first iteration,…

To upgrade the 4×4 prototype to the finished 8×8 board, my first focus was to build the full-size enclosure. I decided to use trim moulding to create a distinct pattern for the sides of my box. I needed additional height to allow the acrylic to sit within the frame, so I also constructed a secondary platform for the base to sit on. [1] 4 planks of trim moulding cut to size with 45° miter cuts on the edges [2] The bottom frame raising the overall…

My final project plan has been a very ambitious project, but I really wanted to complete it the way I envisioned it. Since the design preview, I had been working on modelling the primary sculpture to get the desired effect of projecting 2 shadows from 2 viewing sides. I tried stacking cardboard, modelling clay and even using random objects around me to get the desired shape. But, with every new attempt, the model turned out too big, or very difficult to 3D model, or just…

I’ve been-pricing out my drawing machine design, and I think a fully electronic design is well beyond my budget at $1149, so I think I’m indeed going to pivot to something gravity driven. At my last job, I did a lot of copper pipe soldering, and I always thought it was a cool technique. I’ve never been very good at it, but I’ve always thought it looks really beautiful with the copper color and something about the heat, technique, etc. has always intrigued me. I…

Progress I have completed the 3D model for my design. It ended up looking quite different from what I had originally planned. As I was designing it, I headed toward a different aesthetic direction.     Final Design Model The final design ende dup having a more industrial look to it than what I originally intended. Because I wanted the fountain to actually be functional, I decided to make it a solid one-piece design as water is going to be flowing through it, and that…

So far, I’ve made some pretty good progress with my Generative Lego Art project; it’s mostly all there, but I do want to see if I can add a few more features and tweak the randomness a little bit. One feature that I’d like to have is the ability to save screenshots of the different environments that users create. It would be nice to let users take home their work, and I’d also like to be able to show a gallery from different users on…

Since the Design Preview, I have made a fair amount of progress in creating my final artifact. Firstly I have drawn the lines for where I will have my LED strips and laid out the shapes in which I will have the moss. I have begun gluing and soldering the LED strips together since they need to be chained for the electronics/ code to work. I have used hot glue to insulate the solder connections to ensure no wires accidentally touch and potentially short the…

In order to create my puzzle box, I first determined which wood would be used for each part, then ordered S4S hardwood blanks corresponding to exactly what I needed. I then spent several days trying different ways of indexing different templates, as I needed to route the outer shape, but once I do that I lose my reference for hole placement. I came up with a jig that has 3 pieces and began by laser cutting these from acrylic (an arduous process when determining how…

As far as progress in the past week, I’ve regressed as much as I’ve progressed. As with any “finished” project I’ve found a few things to fix in the past week. While trying to fix a loose latch I realized that the latch catch was bent, so I had to stop and fix that. I also realized that I chose the wrong place to store my stove. I had previously built some spacer blocks to keep the stove in place, but based on where they…

Since my last post, I have gotten less done than I would have liked, but I believe I am still on track to finish the project on time. I made a SolidWorks assembly composed of all the different-sized boards I thought I would need. The assembly was mostly for making sure that all the board sizes that I thought I would use would actually complete the shelf in the correct way. I then created another part as a 4’x8′ sheet of MDF (that I could…

So far I have successfully printed some of the most vital components of my project. The bevel gears fit together very nicely but the shaft pinion and gear base don’t fit very well. The holes on the gears are too small for the shaft and base so I plan on taking a dremel tool to them in order to make them fit correctly. Next, I have to cad up a plate gear that is going to sit on top of the base gear and act…

I have an exciting update to share with you on the progress of my 13-sided LED rock project. Since the design preview I’ve moved from mere concepts to tangible prototypes. In this blog, I will delve into the details of how I have refined the design, tackled the prototyping phase, and prepared for the final stages of assembly and programming. So, let’s illuminate my journey and explore the fascinating world of my LED rock creation!Prototyping: The prototyping phase was a challenging process. Over the course…

In terms of progress, I have completed the design of a clock, which can be seen in the image above. To transform my design into a tangible product, I obtained a wooden clock from Amazon that I plan to modify according to my idea. Specifically, I intend to use preserved moss to create the numerical markings on the clock’s face, and to provide the impression that the moss is growing out of the clock, I will add a layer of sand as the base. To…

I have finalized my CAD and begun work on actually fabricating my escapement mechanism. I spent several hours working on the aesthetic of the gears, pendulum, and the front panel so that they would all appear cohesive within the larger construct. I decided to include both more traditional gear designs as well as more organic features. I did this to pay homage to the antique clocks and kinetic sculptures from which I drew inspiration. Since I am using the large planetary gear system as a…

Background: For my project, I want to create a maximalist cantilever rear suspension setup for an SN-95 Mustang.  Pre-manufacturing progress so far: So far I’ve designed most of the suspension in CAD (there will be minor changes to the design depending on how the manufacturing process goes and if I have to do anything differently that I didn’t think of or account for in CAD). I ran some FEA simulations on the bell cranks and came up with a design I’m happy with and have…

This weekend I 3d printed a mock “pcb” for my handheld emulator. I did this instead of designing and ordering an actual bread board as it was far cheaper and faster, and I wasn’t sure exactly where I wanted the buttons and joysticks etc (this was heavily inspired by Leandro Linares project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkook0l_gsM where he takes the same approach to build a hanheld emulator). This helped me finalize some more dimensions and get a better idea of how I want the exterior shape to turn…

Above are the Legos and the manual needed for the set. The rocket is separated into the actual segments from the Saturn V so really I just need the base first to in order to test this thing out. The bags shown are what it takes to build the bottom half of the rocket. I also have fishing line from my fishing rod that I can use to tie the wooden dowel to the model rocket so that it is more stable. In addition to…

Since the Design Preview Report, I have made some progress in integrating design changes from the critiques. From the original design, I decided to break up the main body of my structure into 4 different pieces that I will mold together more similar to concrete to meet my brutalism aesthetic better. I also tried to take a 3D printing class so that I could print my components locally, but it got cancelled so I had to order my parts to be printed through the Idea…

GUI (Graphical User Interface) I have begun working on how the user will interface with the alarm clock. I believe the way the screen appears and how it is interacted with is critical to the aesthetic of this project. In the cassette futurism aesthetic, the only way people interface with computers with the terminal. Although this is restrictive, there is room for creativity. I have been developing an alarm sequence which is a basic Python script which will output text to the terminal in sequences.…

Initially, when I was planning my final project, my idea was to create a mechanically programmed buffalo powered with a crank handle mechanism similar to the horse below. As I started working on the CAD in SolidWorks a few days ago, I realized how much work and the complexity of the joints this project actually is. I spent two hours working on the back leg assembly and I did not get any substantial work done that was up to my standard. Mechanically Programmed Horse I…

I’m currently working on a drawer for a desk that I designed. The drawer is made out of hardwood and MDF, and my goal is to create a functional and beautiful piece of furniture that will fit seamlessly into the desk. In this update, I’ll be talking about the progress that I’ve made since my last report. Sourcing Materials: For this project, I had to find hardwood and MDF that would work well together and fit within my budget. I spent several days researching different…

Since my last post, I sadly have not made as much progress as I had initially hoped. Last week was meant to be centered around gathering materials, playing with ideas, testing processes for building my design, and finalizing my plan. Instead, I got extremely sick. I had a high fever for a week straight that put me in my bed, rendering me completely useless and miserable. I started feeling better on Sunday, and I’ve spent the start of this week catching up on late assignments,…

Since my design preview report, I was able to acquire all materials and start fabrication! From Hobby Lobby I got a brush set, black and gold paint, wood glue, and a couple different types of hinges along with a wood carving tool to create my pattern work. The stained glass was easiest to acquire from Amazon instead of trying to make my own. My first step in the fabrication was truly just a crude mockup of the jewelry box in order to get a rough…

My progress report for my plywood chair is as follows: Material Sourcing: The first step in the process was to source the necessary materials for the chair. I carefully selected the materials that would be both durable and aesthetically pleasing. After careful consideration, I decided on a high-quality plywood that met your requirements for both strength and appearance. CAD Design: Once the materials were sourced, I moved on to the detailed design phase of the project. Using CAD software, I created a detailed model of…

I have been able to complete the picture frame base. I started by buying a donor painting from goodwill that I removed from its frame. Next I cut the frame into pieces so it would be more manageable to carry around with me. Then I measured two corners of the frame with the monitor so I would know how long the inside sections should be. The next step was to mark the 45 degree angle from the internal length so the miter cuts on the…

I’ve finished most of the CAD for the project, and am now working in Mastercam to make the code for the CNC machine to run the operations on the stock metal I bought. I will be using the machine shop in the ITLL to make the parts because it is less busy and they have programmable machines instead of manual ones. The only issue with the manual machines is I wouldn’t be able to get the circles and fillet on the outside contour which is…

Progress Update: Textile Sculpture Good progress continues to be made on my peacock textile sculpture. It’s been a fun project to work on in incremental pieces, making small progress over the course of the semester.  I have made a significant pivot since this last update. I have found that the starch-stiffened triangles don’t hold their shape over time, nor while under any amount of stress. I started sewing the pieces together only to find them collapsing on top of each other and folding almost entirely…

At this stage, I have imported the code and done the soldering, so it’s now very robust on the connection between the led, the resistors, the wires, and the board. Also, I got a 9V battery for the power of the whole device. I’ll probably include a switch button (still not decided) to the device. After I’m satisfied with the result of soldering, then I started to generate a box for laser cutting and do the laser cut in the BTU Lab. The first few…

My progress for my final project is that I have started ordering my materials. I expect them to be delivered this weekend and can begin constructing my final project. I am excited to see where my project goes and the final product. I am very excited to begin constructing and truly make something from start to finish. I am worried about the roadblocks I will come across while creating the final product.  I decided that I was going to go with buying copper picture frames…

Although my projects design has stayed approximately the same since my design preview, my main challenge right now is time. In order to complete my project on time I need to finish printing all 16 petal components with enough time to post process them. when initially sliced, the outer pedals were each estimated to take 24 hours to print and each inner petal, 10. With just my ender 3 this would not be done in time. I tried to solve this problem by maxing out…

To date, I have purchased the majority of my materials needed with the exception of a cable which I plan on sourcing from a bike shop to use a strong breaking cable which will allow me to bend the wire well around the pulleys and wire securing areas. I have also purchased and cut my wood surfaces to size, gotten 7 pulleys, and some “L” brackets due to a design change. My current CAD assembly can be seen below.     As you can see…

Since my last blog post, I’ve gotten a lot done, though not as much as I’d hoped. At the moment, I’ve nearly completed the assembly. I just need to glue and wedge the knobs in place, do some sanding, and apply finish to the piece. The first thing I worked on was the drawer fronts. I wanted them to look nice so I used some of the best quality wood I had (or so I thought). I resawed ⅜” thick pieces to use and left…

As my design for a rope light was finalized, all I am waiting on at this point to progress further is the delivery of the final material/part. As you could see through my images below, I first started to modify the metal base plate. This piece was 10″ wide and had a 1/4″ diameter hole in the center. I knew this hole would b too small for the pole that I would be using although I know that I could drill a larger hole through…

Since the Design Review, I have kept up with my schedule for my projects completion. I have received my circuit parts in the mail and wired and tested them on a breadboard. I unfortunate have LED’s that ran into a supply chain issue and they would arrive within 1 day of the due date, so hopefully I have time to add those. Today I was also able to get a spot on a 3-D printer and began my 13 hour print. Next steps would be…

I have finished designing the enclosure for the battery and have started on the electrical side of things. As far as fabrication goes, I have had some major setbacks. I have attempted to 3D print the frame of the enclosure 3 times with each time resulting in a failed print. This is not great as I don’t even expect the first iteration of this to be fully functional and so the final product is going to take much longer than expected. 3D printed frame that…

I’ve completely changed my project. I was going to make saddlebags for my motorcycle but its engine seized so I won’t be riding it for a while. I could still have made them but most people’s positive feedback to my project was that it would actually be used. So I tried to replace it with another useful project. I’m known to my friends as a guy with a lot of ways to get around, bicycle, skateboard, motorcycle, car, so I thought I’d add another to…

Post 11: Custom Ice Tool Report

Ive gotten a lot of progress done so far. With this project i have learned to solder addressable LED’s which was a challenge due to how small they are. I initially bought a LED strip but quickly realized that the covers i designed would become to bulky so i instead bought some WS2812B RGBW LED’S At this point i had already calculated the angles to make the shapes and i laser cut them out of acrylic and i prototyped the shape of the box with…

This project’s progress is difficult to report on due to the sheer scope of the piece, and the numerous problems I have encountered in an attempt at fabrication. Starting from the beginning with a reminder as to what the piece is, I originally aimed to fabricate an autonomous coffee maker, with a sleek wood housing and doors that would open automatically. I began by ordering parts and creating a timeline for myself to follow, as I work best with strict deadlines and due dates. I…

Since my last post, I have purchased materials and began working on fabrication. So far, I’ve cut out all of the pieces from the plywood sheet I’m using, which can be seen below. To cut the trapezoidal pieces seen on the left side of the image above, I first cut a plank out of the sheet of plywood to the correct width using a table saw, then used a miter saw to cut the angles. The pieces in the middle will make up the base…

When doing this post, I have done a lot of progress regarding the design of the press. After experimenting with the topology study module of Solidworks, I ended redesigning the body shape, removing the fasteners and the ability to disasemble it, making the column and the base in one piece. One of the reasons was the complexity those holes asses to the mesh and the problems I had to run studies. Also I found out that Idea Forge has an SLS 3D printer, so I…

Inspiration Reminder: Carnovsky RGB work, but put it in a frame. Since my design preview report, I have spent most of my time in the BTU at ATLAS creating sawdust and painting. The frame is constructed of 1″x2″ Lumber, that I cut a rabbet “step” into to hold the photo and its backing. The face of the frame is constructed of 1″x3″ and it sort of makes this frame more like a shadowbox, this is where I am hiding my LEDs and electronics. I planned…

My project is still on track to be completed by the 25th. However, my timeline has been rearranged. In my initial planning I had hoped to have my physical artifact completely finished by this Thursday. I was going to create my accompanying visuals after. Instead, I’ve gotten very far with the creation of my visuals. The Aesthetic I’ve chosen for my project is minimalism. During my design preview presentation it was pointed out that I could consider changing my aesthetic to modernism since my design…

Since the Design Preview in my last blog post, I haven’t made too much more progress. I was able to nearly complete my CAD models for the base as well as two different styles of cup to be levitated. In my new base module, I have decided to go with a simpler and more streamlined hexagon shape with chamfered edges. I simplified the cutout for the module as I realized some of the pieces that were sticking out and forcing me to make cutouts for…

The violin is still on schedule and should be completed on the 25th. I expect that there will need to be some adjustments made, however most of the parts have been completed and the aesthetic covering copper piece is still in tact. There are still a few things that I need in order to complete the project. I will need the right size nuts and bolts for the bearings, paint, and possibly more wood that can be used for the counterbalance. I am planning on…

Unfortunately, my ideas for a Wood bathymetric map have come crashing down… After purchasing $150 work of laser cutting plywood, UPS lost my plywood in their Commerce City, CO warehouse. Without the wood, my recently ordered blue wood stain is also worthless. To adapt my project, I will scrounge enough cardboard to make a stand in. Unfortunately, this will not be my high-quality desired piece, but a pathetic shell. I simply do not have enough time to order or source new wood, and I have…

To read my update post, click here

I have made a lot of progress since my Design Preview. At the time of the preview, I had cut all the individual pieces for the mold and worked on making them fit nicely together. I have finished modifying individual pieces and now have the top and bottom sections of the mold glued up. The next step for the mold is to use an orbital sander to smooth out any edges present from assembling individual pieces. The bottom half of the mold looks very smooth…

For my final artifact, I’m choosing to go with a minimalistic hourglass. I originally was going to go with a modern aesthetic. However, after doing the sketching exercise, I was really inspired by the minimalist design. This is an artifact I want to keep on my desk and I personally have a very minimalistic style. So far, I have completed the CAD design for the shell of the hourglass. I plan to 3D print the design this week, and I expect to have the project…

Show and tell progress since the Design Preview. I decided to change my project idea, so this blog post includes my progress update as well as an updated version of the previous blog posts I submitted. Rationale for Change: I decided that I want to create something more functional that I would use more often, but honor the intended aesthetic and use elements from my previous project design in this one. My new idea also takes inspiration from my up-cycle project, which was a model…

Today’s post will be light on words and heavy on progress. Over the past week, the tools have gone from vague amorphous math, solid works designs, and flimsy 3D prints to the beginnings of the real thing. There’s lots of work to still be done in finishing them and making them usable, refined, and aesthetic. As they are though, they are absolutely gorgeous and just super compelling objects to hold and handle. They make me so excited to test, climb, adventure, and compete on them.…

So far I have been focusing my efforts on creating the picture frame first as I want to have a product at the end of this project before a bunch of renders. I was able to get my hands on a Raspberry Pi 2 from a coworker for $5. This is what I plan to code to have the images, videos, and slideshows automatically boot up. I am going to display the images on a BenQ monitor that my roommate was not using. I have…