October 2024

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SWAG & CODES

Please login to view codes if you received this months UFO.

Image
Subscriber @tsiolkovsky created a neat trading card holder for the top of the printer to hold the card for the sample you're printing with!
Download Card Holder

PLA

Click cards to visit brand site.

PETG

Click cards to visit brand site.

Explorer

Click cards to visit brand site.

Accessory

Captubes PTFE Chamfer Tool

Ever needed to chamfer the inside of a PTFE tube? Well this is the tool for you! Thanks to our friends over at Capricorn, who is a great source for PTFE tubing!

Shop at Captubes

Project!

+Nano version of the UFOs received an ESP32-WROOM

3D Scanner (Concept)

Download at Printables
ToF Scanner Codes

This project is a concept of a 3D Scanner simply because a scanner module that would be needed to accurately scan an object is WAY out of budget. I purchased a Time of Flight scanner to at least introduce you to using a scanner, however it has a 25 degree field of view, so it's not useable as an actual object scanner. I apologize for that. While I was playing around with it though, I was able to detect distances of almost 9 meters.

The point of the electronics projects has always been to teach you how to use various electronics components and using them with 3D printed items to show that 3D printing is more than just pretty trinkets. While this project is only a concept, I hope you find value in the components and learning about some new things.

I want to point out that you'll need to supply your own jumper wires and SD Card this month, I apologize for that but I went over budget with the parts in the project as it is, but I think there are some cool electronics this month.

Parts included:

  • LCD Keypad Shield
  • SD Card Reader
  • ULN2003 Motor Driver
  • 28BYJ-48 5v Motor
  • VL53L0X Time of Flight Scanner
  • 10 x M3x6 Bolts

I am providing a link to the code above. The code works for all of the functionality intended...and there are links below for test code for the various components.

Wiring

The wiring is pretty straight forward, but the LCD Keypad shield can be a little tricky as the shield doesn't have any pins marked so you really need to follow the wiring diagram.

You'll need to solder the pins on the ToF sensor and on the SD card reader

For the ToF sensor, after you have the 4 pins soldered to the board, bend them upwards (see pic below) so the wires are out of the way.

The LCD, Motor and ToF sensor all share the VIN and GND on the ESP32, the SD Card reader uses the 3v3.

Click to Expand

Click to Expand

Assembly of the model

Each of these modules has it's own slot on the printed base. Motor Driver, SD Card Reader, ESP32 and only requires 1 bolt per (SD card has a 3d printed clamp because I didn't know they had M2 holes and not M3 - (note: in the picture I have the motor driver backwards, I suggest the 4 IN pins be facing the ESP32 side)

The motor attaches to the electronics base via 2 bolts, those same 2 bolts screw into the bottom of the wheel base. 1 additional screw can be used on the ESP32 side of the wheel base.

The LCD fits into its own case, and then that case is secured to the electronics base with 2 bolts.

Screw the ToF mount onto the threaded shaft of the geneva gear at least halfway (you can "home" via the LCD keypad to go down the rest of the way). Then place the geneva gear down onto the shaft on the wheel base to help keep it vertical and slide the support beams down on either side through the square holes. Push the platform down onto the motor shaft, aligning a curved side of the geneva gear to the underside of the platform.

Programming

Programming the ESP32 instructions can be found below, but here are some test codes for the individual components should you wish to use them in other projects as well.

ToF Sensor

https://app.arduino.cc/sketches/72d86813-a25f-41bd-9868-df67462ea87c?view-mode=preview

SD Card Reader

https://app.arduino.cc/sketches/62d44c44-b803-4eef-bf3d-7cb84c37fab7?view-mode=preview

LCD Keypad

https://app.arduino.cc/sketches/9aa7be69-5021-4bb7-a601-b3512bc9a16c?view-mode=preview

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