Week 3



 Due to waiting on parts this week, we decided it was a good time to begin to assemble our prototypes. 

Using scrap MDF boards, Elys made a half scale prototype. With sides being X in length and front, back and bottom panels being 2X length. Using a circular saw, Elys cut grooves into the front and back panels, these grooves were close together in order to be able to create 1 large groove where the lid can be on a track and move back and forth correctly. In the model, the lid is simply a piece of MDF to demonstrate the groves and track, however ideally it would be a concertina lid. The concertina lid would shrink in size when open, being conscious about space and then grow in length again when closing. Unfortunately, the motor wasn't able to move the MDF panel and due to parts not arriving in time, we decided to use this prototype as a stationary model. 

Instead, we designed and built a smaller prototype, with the Arduino power and the motor in mind. To reduce the load and improve motion stability, lightweight materials for the transmission structure. Ultimately, it was decided that cardboard would be used as the main transmission component, allowing the servo motor to rotate the cardboard 180 degrees to achieve the desired switching or flipping function. This design is both simple and efficient, making full use of the motor’s capabilities while minimising the required driving force. To make the entire device more intuitive and practical, the food trough was designed as a transparent acrylic box. The use of transparent material not only allows for a clear view of the servo motor's working status—making debugging and maintenance more convenient—but also enables users to directly see the food reserves inside the trough in real-world applications. This makes it easier to determine when a refill is needed. This design enhances the device's visibility and practicality, laying a solid foundation for future optimisations

2P47 :) 

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