APPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATION

WEEK 18: APPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

  • For this week's assignment, we have to define and strengthen understanding of final project which helps to develop project with necessary requirement.
  • So, for my final project I have been answering the stated questions as below:

Propose a final project that integrates the range of units covered

  • As I decided earlier, I am going to make filament extruder machine, which will produce FDM 3d printing material from plastic granules.
  • Ideation of this project which includes which processes I am going to use to make this  project, which is done here in week 1

What will it do?

  • It will accept plastic granules as raw material and give output as 3d printing filament.
  • It will consist of heater which will melts plastic and augur bit and pipe to extrude it as filament wire.

ASSIGNMENT:

 

  • Propose a final project that integrates the range of units covered, by answering given questions.

  Who's done what beforehand?

  • I have got few references who have made such mechanism, not exactly like it but similar functionality project.
  • Stefano Paradiso FabLab Torino fab academy 2016 student developed pallet extruder. Which can be mounted on robotic arm, and 3d print directly from plastic pallet. His project can be accessed from here
  • Apart from this another good reference I have got is Felfil Evo. It is professional kit filament extruder machine seller. They have given data  of basic kit details on Github
  • One basic mechanism reference I have got is thepguler diy filament  extruder. But this one is very basic version of it.
  • 3devo- Professional Filament maker
  • Rotary electrical motor and chain based extruder

 What will you design?

  • My main challenging design part is to design my own circuit board. So I will design board, pcb mill it, solder it and program it do the task I requires.
  • Second important part I am designing is heater and melting zone element, which probably I have to aluminum cast it to fabricate.
  • Apart from this, I am aiming to design overall structure and base, casing, connectors, and overall packaging of project.

What materials and components will be used?

  • Main materials used in my project are as below.
  • MDF board
  • Acrylic sheet
  • SS Pipe
  • Wood drill
  • ABS Plastic for 3d printing
  • 3d printing waste material
  • Geared DC motor
  • L293D IC
  • PCB boards
  • Atmega 328P MCU and electronics components
  • Cartridge Heater
  • Thermistor

  Where will come from?

  • I am planning to use most of the items which is available in my fablab or which I can fabricate, so minimum parts should be procured.
  • Motor, Heater, Thermistor, and bearing need to be procured from outside. Pipe and wood drill bit I am planning to use one which my fablab already have as out of one discarded drill bit set.
  • Base platform, alignment mechanism, and control board I am planning to design and fabricate by my own.

  How much will they cost?

  • Costing of material which I have to purchased from outside is as below.
  • 1) MDF board  10 Sq. feet = 120 INR
  • 2) Acrylic sheet - 5 Sq. feet =150 INR
  • 3) ABS Plastic for 3d printing - 5 meter = 80 INR
  • 4) Geared DC motor - 1 = 400 INR
  • 5) L293D IC  - 2 = 120 INR
  • 6) Cartridge Heater - 3 = 360 INR
  • 7) Thermistor - 1 = 120 INR
  • TOTAL = 1350 INR

List of electronics component can be found here

What parts and systems will be made?

Following parts of project will be designed and fabricated:

  • Base platform
  • Pipe holder and motor holder for alignment
  • Casing and body
  • Project Control board
  • Assembly of metal parts with required cutting
  • Axis alignment coupler if needed

  What processes will be used?

Following fabrication process will be used for final project:

  • CNC or Laser cutting : For structure and platform
  • Laser cutting : For electronics casings
  • 3D Printing: Motor and pipe holders.
  • Electronics Design and Production: Control board
  • Electronics Programming: Controls of heater, thermistor and motor
  • Molding and Casting: Heater and extrusion melting element.

  What is the schedule?

I have divided my project in five main sections and following is expected time-line.

  • Electronics Design & Production: Completed (Documentation is here)
  • Electronics Programming: 80% Done, Expected to complete 100% by 4th June
  • Structure design and fabrication: Planned to complete by 7th June
  • Functional assembly test: Few more tests will be done by 8th June
  • Structure assembly test: 9th June
  • System integration and final test: 10th and 11th June

How will it be evaluated?

Project can be evaluated with respected to following statements.

  • It can be evaluated in a sense that raw material is inserted to mechanism and it converts that into FDM 3d printing material, in form of wire.
  • It should demonstrate ability to make 3d printing filament on small scale.

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2018 | Tanvir Khorajiya