Check out all the projects I've done this semester, and the skills I've learned along the way
First Week! This week we learned about computer aided design and parametric design. I have solidworks and creo experience, and I used solidworks to sketch out some designs for my final project.
Learn MoreThis week we learned about computer controlled cutting, specifically with the laser cutter and the vinyl cutter. For this week I designed a sticker and a parametric cardboard kit with animals.
Learn MoreThis week was all about embedded programming. We learned about embedded programming and electronics. After learning about various microprocessors, I decided to perform an electronic simulation with an ESP32 on wokwi. I simulated data collection on an IMU and readout on an external OLED screen.
Learn MoreThis week we learned about 3D printing and scanning. We tested the design rules of the printer in terms of overhang, wall thickness, bridging, and other features that typically require support. I printed hat hangers that clip on a bracket in my room and a seat belt buckle (that's definitely not for silencing annoying car alarms). I also used a 3D scanner for the first time.
Learn MoreThis week we learned about electronics design. I used an ESP32c3 for the first time and designed a pcb on KiCAD. I made a basic breakout board for an IMU, which I hope to use in my final project. This was my first time dealing with electronics.
Learn MoreThis week we learned about electronics production. I made a PCB with an imu and microcontroller for sensing movement with a small footprint.
Learn MoreThis week we learned about molding and casting. I used silicon to make a soft-plastic fishing lure with a swimming tail.
Learn MoreThis week we learned about input devices. I made a lot of progress on accelerometers.
Learn MoreThis week we learned about output devices. I used an OLED screen and learned more about I2C
Learn MoreThis week we learned about computer controlled machining. We used a shapeoko to cut OSB wood board into a bow hanger.
Learn MoreThis week we made a machine as a section. Our machine rendered a trace outline caricature from an input image, then drew it
Learn MoreThis week we learned about networking and communication. I made my ESP32c3 ADXL343 breakpout board wireless.
Learn MoreSame info as above, just cooler
Fail early, fail often
I missed the first week since I was in Idaho (squeezing the last drops out of summer). Familiarizing myself with the application process and MIT access wa a challenge.
I could not get git (haha) to work with an ssh key. Instead, I cloned my repo in HTML. I use VS code to write my website code, then push my changes to git. This was a bit of a learning curve for me (thanks Gail and Cameron).
My first vinyl sticker scaled improperly cut our all squishy looking. I restarted my svg generation in Adobe Illustrator and it worked the second time.
I have no electronics experience, so all the terminology was very confusing to me.
I did not realize that you loose a some ESP32 hardware functionality in the wokwi simulation. I was hoping to use wifi functionality, but this was not available through the GUI.
Scanning the pedicle scew was hard. First, the reflective surfaces made it scan poorly, then the articulating head made merging the meshes impossible.
2 failed prints... Not sure why.
I really strugggled with the IIS3DWBTR documentation. This was much less developed than the documentation on the ADXL 343, so that's where I started
This week was a wake-up call. I ran out of time to make and test my PCB during the week and had to push my responsibilities into the folllowing week
This week was disappointing. I had my board finished early, by Friday. I was out for the weekend but spent the rest of my time trying to figure out software issues that ended up being a hardware issue (a short)
This week I had a lot of simple oversight issues with my PCB manufacturing. I connected traces wrong twice. But I learned some board surgery!
My design and concept was great, but I think I need to do a finalized product on a material that is stronger than OSB or do some significant finishing work
This week was disappointing. I had my board finished early, by Friday. I was out for the weekend but spent the rest of my time trying to figure out software issues that ended up being a hardware issue (a short)
This week was disappointing. I had my board finished early, by Friday. I was out for the weekend but spent the rest of my time trying to figure out software issues that ended up being a hardware issue (a short)