18.6 Conclusions & Future Work
Conclusions:
Our linkages exhibited minimal play, and overall mechanical assembly went smoothly due to the extensive time we dedicated to creating an accurate and detailed CAD model. However, this focus on mechanical precision came at the cost of electronics troubleshooting time. If we had been able to assemble earlier, we would have identified that the motor controller was limiting output and could have sourced a more suitable controller. The adjustable mountings for both the toothpick and structural plates performed exactly as intended and were especially useful in compensating for gravitational effects on the mechanism. Ultimately, our system functioned as expected and was an engaging and rewarding project to demonstrate.
Future Work:
The primary improvement would be sourcing a more capable motor controller—one that delivers the full 12V required by the motor—so that the mechanism can operate independently without manual assistance. Additional refinements include widening the cherry hopper for more consistent loading, incorporating a wiping arm to clean residual cherry juice from the acrylic, and extending the plate height to accommodate a wider range of cup sizes beneath the mechanism.
Acknowledgments:
Thanks to James Bellanger for help brainstorming our final project idea and assisting us with our assembly on one long Saturday night.