Final Project Tracking Page

~Final Project: Prof. Sloghorn's Hourglass~

This page tracks my progress towards the final project...

What I Want to Achieve

The hourglass will be placed next to a box with a touch pad on the side to control the speed.
The PCB will be placed at the bottom of the box to connect with the touch pad and control the motor that controls the speed of the hourglass.
Ultimately, I want to automate the process to get rid of the manual control, and the flow will be controlled by “conversation quality” with audio sensing/processing.

Early Thoughts- September 2025

Check out the movie scene that inspired this project:

The hourglass design can be modified to have a controllable flow rate, possibly through adjustable openings or mechanisms.
Since this class won't include glass design, maybe the hourglass vessel can be substitue for other materials.
Some initial ideas are here in the draft:

Sketches — Ideas for different designs to achieve controlable hourglass rate.

October Updates

I'm excited about the potential of this project and the challenges it presents. I want to explore various design options and functionalities for the hourglass, including:

Integrating a touch pad for speed control.
Using audio sensing to automate the flow control.
Experimenting with different materials for the hourglass vessel.

I also came across an interesting kind of origami structure called Kresling Pattern

On Week 8, I tested and refined the audio input device, and I have been following this tutorial to try ensuring it accurately captures voice commands for controlling the hourglass.

On Week 9, I did some research on origami structures and magnetic field control, which could potentially be integrated into the hourglass design. After discussion with Anthony, we explored the idea of using the electromagnetic properties of iron filament as sand flowing in the hourglass structure.

On the left is a video I took demonstrating the mechanism of the hourglass that can be controlled with magnets.
When a magnet is brought close to the hourglass, the iron filings inside are attracted to the magnet, causing them to cluster together and slow down their flow through the narrow passage. Conversely, when the magnet is moved away, the iron filings are free to flow more quickly through the hourglass.
This setup allows for dynamic control of the flow rate of the iron filings, simulating the effect of an hourglass that can be adjusted in real-time using magnetic fields.
Thanks to Anthony's brilliant suggestion, I'm planning to wrap around coils through the snakes and implement electromagnetic control in this elegant and effective(?) way.

November Updates

Since the glassware design is not covered in this class, I just bought one off the shelf and bring it to the master of glass, Alfonso, with the challenge of drilling a hole to open it for iron powder filling. See his words of wisdom in cc of the process below:

Alfonso successfully drilled a hole in the glass, and I was able to fill it with iron powder but just needs to make sure it's really dry after I cleaned out the sand with IPA. The hourglass is now ready for the next phase of testing and development.

For Week 11, I created a system diagram to illustrate the overall design and functionality of the hourglass project:

Moving forward, my next steps include:

Continuing to refine the audio sensing system to ensure reliable voice recognition for controlling the hourglass flow rate.
Prototyping the electromagnetic control system using 3D printed snakes and electromagnet.
Dropcasting epoxy snakes to have coils wrapped around, as suggested by Anthony.
Integrating the touch pad interface for manual speed control, allowing users to adjust the flow rate of the hourglass directly.
Conducting system integration testing between the audio sensing, electromagnetic control, and touch pad interface.
Documenting the development process and preparing a comprehensive presentation for the final project showcase.

Estimated Timeline:

Weeks 12-13: Integrate touch pad interface and finalize audio sensing with electromagnetic control system prototype.
Weeks 14-15: Conduct system testing and refine the hourglass design.
Week 16: Prepare final documentation and presentation materials.