Alex Olson’s Work Log

Progress This Week:

To-do List for Next Week:

• GOAL: Get the automatic extruder electrical components operational
• Touch up on coding language for microcontroller
• Write code to microcontroller to control stepper motor
• Connect wiring between power supply, microcontroller, and stepper motor
• Get stepper motor rotating on command
• Verify power supply works with microcontroller
• If power supply is not compatible, order buck converter

Concerns for Next Week:

• Some time concerns, as my classes have a lot of assignments due at that time. Above goals should still be achievable.

Week 5:

Progress:

• Created code for operating a stepper motor in Arduino IDE
• Verified that the Elegoo (cheaper version of the Arduino) works with C code written in Arduino IDE
• Verified that a 12V power supply will work with the Elegoo
• Reworked the design of the stepper motor mount and rack & pinion system to be more stable and easier to install

Problems:

• Ordered parts did not arrive this week, so physically setting up the stepper motor was not possible

To-do list for next week:

• GOAL: Get the automatic extruder electrical components operational
• Connect wiring between power supply, microcontroller, and stepper motor
• Get stepper motor rotating on command

Concerns for next week:

• The parts are taking longer than expected to arrive

Week 6:

Progress:

• Fixed some syntax problems in Arduino code
• Wired Arduino to a stepper driver and stepper motor (using temporary parts found in lab)
• Tested function of stepper motor– it works as expected (constant rotation in one direction)

To-do list for next week:

• GOAL: Create more complex functions for stepper motor
• Add limit switch to the stepper motor circuit
• Add an activation button to the stepper motor circuit
• Code the stepper to move in two directions instead of just one
• Code the stepper to move a set distance on activation button press, and a set distance in the opposite direction when the limit switch is pressed

Problems:

• Parts have still not arrived. I used available lab parts to make a temporary solution.

Concerns for next week:

• I’m concerned that the parts might still not arrive.

Week 7:

Progress:

• Created code to reverse stepper motor rotation when limit switch is pressed
• Created code to move stepper motor a specified distance when the activation button is pressed
• Added limit switch and activation button to the circuit

To-do list for next week:

• Add another stepper motor, limit switch, and button to have 2 functioning steppers
• Edit the code to make the second stepper operational
• Create PowerPoint and perform Critical Design Review

Concerns for next week:

• None as of right now

Week 8:

Progress:

• Created code for running two stepper motors (have not been physically added yet)
• Presented at Critical Design Review

To-do list for the week after break:

• Get the second stepper motor wired up
• Start looking into designs for mounting the stepper motors to the frame

Concerns for that week:

• While I have verified that the power supply supplies 12V, I am not sure if it also supplies 5V for the electronics.

Week 9:

Progress:

• Obtained the Elegoo and a driver board that holds multiple drivers

To-do list for next week:

• Figure out which pins on the driver board correspond to which pins on the Elegoo and change the programming accordingly
• Replace the test Arduino and stepper hardware with the new Elegoo hardware
• Create a project overview

Concerns:

• Some time concerns due to the workload from other classes

Week 10:

Progress:

• Figured out which pins on the driver board correspond to the Elegoo pins
• Connected two stepper motors to driver board and got them operational

To-do list for next week:

• Measure the amount of chocolate in mL is needed to fill a mold
• Determine the distance the plunger needs to travel to extrude that amount of chocolate and calculate the number of steps it would take in the code
• Edit the code to have the motors turn that distance upon button press

Concerns:

• The silicone molds are taking longer than expected to get back, may need to decide as a group whether we want to order them from a different source if it’s looking like they won’t come in time
• There is not a clear way to add inputs onto the driver board (aka limit switch and activation button), it may be necessary to make my own circuit on perf board

Week 11:

Progress:

• Burned out a stepper driver and fixed it afterwards
• Gathered components to move circuit to a soldered perf board
• Decided on circuit dimensions so Dylan can print the casing

To-do list for next week:

• Still need to measure mL needed to fill chocolate mold (and edit the code to reflect that)
• Move the circuit to perf board (more permanent and secure and can take inputs)

Concerns:

• Can’t measure the mL the steppers need to extrude until the device is back from Seth’s house and the molds are done

Week 12:

• Moved code to an Arduino Nano to reduce circuit footprint
• Soldered circuit onto perf board
• Troubleshooted circuit for quite some time (first stepper is now operational)
• Helped with project report draft

To-Do list for next week:

• Solder the second stepper driver onto the perf board
• Get the second stepper operational on perf board (will likely involve troubleshooting)

Concerns:

• End of semester is getting close, finishing on time should be possible but will be tight

Week 13:

Progress:

• Second stepper driver circuit soldered to perf board, still need to solder a few more connections to the Arduino so it’s not quite testable yet
• Scheduled project check-off time with team
• Improved Characterization and Methodology sections of final report
• Identified a potential problem with powering servos for mix-ins device: 5V pin on the Arduino can’t supply enough current to drive a servo and the power supply is 12V, which also can’t be used for the servos
• 5V wall plug-in sourced from the lab to potentially provide current for the servos

To-Do list for next week:

• Finish the last few connections on the second driver
• Test second driver for functionality
• Work with Seth to integrate electrical with mechanical
• Create code for servos
• Test the functionality of the 5V wall plug-in for the servos

Concerns:

• Next week will be a time crunch
• Perf board is getting quite full of wires, it may be difficult to solder all the connections needed