Challenges:
- Tolerances can be a major issue when manufacturing parts for a device. If not properly accounted for it can lead to many wasted hours reproducing the parts.
- Due to limited availability of workspaces/ 3D-printers, a lot of time was often lost to waiting to gain access to the printers or other area where we could manufacture parts.
- Due to time constraints we were unable to go through multiple prototypes and refinements since the manufacturing process took a significant amount of time.
Future Improvements:
- Reduce size of all parts within base to make it smaller and more portable
Make arm larger to increase drawing area
Make clutch system virtually wireless to avoid tangling of wires when the base rotates
Distribute weight evenly to avoid uneven stresses on motor shaft and sagging of base
If the drawing table is necessary, cut the hole properly such that entire mount system and arm gear fits through to allow smooth operation
- Better way to fasten things together, i.e. heat set screw inserts
- Modular design from the start, i.e. no hot glue, epoxy, elmer’s glue, etc.
- Retractable components for things like table legs, link lengths, etc.
- Caster wheel supports at the bottom of assembly to offload weight from motor shaft and make the overall assembly more stable
- Spend more time in prototyping and testing phase than just hoping it’ll work out in the end