19. Final Project

This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process.

What does it do?

I made the machine that makes the artworks automatically by dropping the liquid colored inks on the paper. I called it, Geodrop. The Drop position is controlled by using CoreXY platform which is the slider mechanism applying to 3D printer and Pen Plotter.
Because I’d like to confirm that the machine works simply, I’ve programed to control to start and stop dropping the colored ink. The end effector doesn’t move.

But if you’d like, you can customize its function by programming, driving the stepper motor, and changing the speed of DC motor pump.

Who’s done what beforehand?

Drawing Machine is also the drawing machine that draws the abstract artwork by using stepping motors. And Pen Plotter uses the same positioning technique, using CoreXY system. But I’ve never seen the example of applying the GPS data-based controlling system to those machine and it’s also one of the outstanding features for Geodrop.

Links - the outcomes that someone achieved beforehand
Drawing Machine
Pen Plotter

What did you design?

Firstly, here are all systems which I made for my final project:
Table / End Effector / CoreXY system / Computing Board / Programming / Logo

Design by Fusion360

Systems Parts Materials Process
Table All parts without a drawer Veneer Plywood CNC Router
Drawer MDF Laser Cutting
End Effector Support parts Plastic 3D Printer
CoreXY System Outer frame MDF Laser Cutting
Support parts Plastic 3D Printer
Computing Board Main Board and others Cupper Board SRM-20
Programming Program to control DC motor pump Arduino IDE -
Logo All parts Seal paper Vinyl Cutting

What materials and components were used?

End Effector

Parts Spec. Buy or Make Cost (JPY) Amount (PCS) Total Cost (JPY)
Syringe support parts Plastic by 3D printing Make - 1 -
Colored liquid ink Watercolors
12 colors
Buy 645 1 645
645

CoreXY System

Parts Spec. Buy or Make Cost (JPY) Amount (PCS) Total Cost (JPY)
Stepper motor NEMA-17 Buy 2883 2 5766
Shaft SUJ2
φ 4.0 x 400 mm
Buy 1390 4 5560
Timing belt pulley φ 5 mm, 16 Gears Buy 135.8 10 1358
Linear Bush LM-8UU
φ 8 mm, H = 24 mm
Buy 279 8 2232
Collar φ 5 mm, L = 5mm Buy 86 10 860
Belt 3m Buy 1260 1 1260
Screw M3 x 40
15 pcs
Buy 549 1 549
Nut M3
110 pcs
Buy 429 1 429
Washer M3
34 pcs
Buy 399 1 399
Spring Washer M3
610 pcs
Buy 419 1 419
Support parts at side slider Plastic Make
3D printing
- 2 -
Support parts at corner Plastic Make
3D printing
- 4 -
Outer frame MDF Make
Laser cutting
150 3 450
19282

Computing Board

Systems Parts Spec. Buy or Make Cost (JPY) Amount (PCS) Total Cost (JPY)
Main Controller Satshakit cnc Make
cnc
1
Power Supply Modules Make
cnc
1
Motor driver modules Make
cnc
3

Table

System Parts Spec. Buy or Make Cost (JPY) Amount (PCS) Total Cost (JPY)
Table Veneer Plywood Processed by CNC Router Buy 3000 2 6000
Top board Make 1
Leg1 Make 2
Leg2 Make 2
Circle_Handling Make 2
Circle_Support Make 2
Pole_Handling Make 2
Pole_Support Make 2
Pole_Rolling Make 2
Support Part Make 2
Support Block Make 4
Drawer MDF Make
Laser cutting
150 1 150
6150

Logo

Systems Parts Spec. Buy or Make Cost (JPY) Amount (PCS) Total Cost (JPY)
Logo seal Processed by Vinyl Cutting Make 1
Seal paper 100 x 50cm Buy 540 1 540
Laminator 100 x 50cm Buy 540 1 540
1080

Total Cost = 27157 yen

Mmh, too much cost…

*Exchange rate: 1 USD = 108.620 JPY (2020/4/3 23:44 Ref.)

Where did they come from?

Please see What materials and components will be used? part.

How much did they cost?

Please see What materials and components will be used? part.

What parts and systems were made?

Please see What will you design? part.

What processes were used?

Please see What materials and components will be used? part.

What questions were answered?

Q. Did you make a pump to extrude the ink by 3D printing?

A. No. I bought DC motor pump due to the time saving.

How was it evaluated?

  • What percentage did I complete to make my final project?

WiFi Communication: 0 %

I wanted to add the WiFi function to the machine, but I couldn’t because I had no time to do that. As I talked to my instructor, I decided to focus on finishing making a table first.

Data Conversion: 0 %

I planed to convert GPS data to XY coordinate data, but I couldn’t due to the same reason as WiFi communication.

Output control (CoreXY, Pump): 30 %

The pump could be worked properly. But the coreXY doesn’t work because the program that I was tried to use is for the other motor driver.
For the next step, I’d like to work coreXY platform by revising and embedding a program.

Table: 100 %

Completed to make a table. For the next step, I’d like to design the deferent shape of the legs of the table. They would be unique ones!

  • Beauty of appearance of my final project

The appearance of the ink drop machine was very good. Table’s appearance was perfect. I was impressed that it’s completely the same with its 3D design made on the computer. The drawer on the table has the functional design thanks to the idea of all the instructors and students in Kamakura.
But the design of core XY need to improve more because the rail shafts should be covered and hidden by the materials made by wood like MDF. I wanted to harmonize the design of core XY with that of the table.

What worked? What didn’t?

The machine can only extrude the ink and control its amount by clicking ‘s’ (means to start extruding) and ‘f’ (finish extruding) on the keyboard, but don’t move around the extruder. WiFi communication also does not work.
In the future, I’d like to sense the GPS data like longitude and latitude by the other devices like smartphone and send it to this ink drop machine, and draw the artworks based on the geometrical data by using this machine.

What are the implications?

As an pen plotter is used by the artist to make an art, this machine would collaborate with the artist. Its artwork would be more generative, complex, random like the abstract art and the generative art.

  • What if WiFi connection could be added?
    People around the world could participate to make an artwork. It needs to think the application which they can take part in.