Engineer

Thomas C.

Area of Interest

Biomedical Engineering

School

Gateway Highschool

Grade

Rising Sophomore

Reflection

Overall I’m really glad that I chose this project, the 3D Printed Robotic Hand.  It was a ton of fun and it was also very challenging. There were some segments that were really frustrating and stressful, but I think it was worth it. Because it was so rushed it was filled with lots of little problems, mostly centered on the finger strings. Stringing the fingers to the servos really taught me a lot about patience, taking your time, and going with the flow. This project taught me a lot, including how to solder, how to write code, what code is, what an Arduino does, and how to make a circuit. I also gained more experience in part assembly and using tools creatively. I’m really glad I chose this project and although would like to improve given more time, am happy with the end project.

Final Milestone

My final milestone, to attach all of the finger strings to their own servo, is complete, albeit with some complications. I only had one day to crimp all of the strings in place, so some of them don’t work or are a bit loose. One of the strings snapped on demo night, and had to be glued in place instead of a crimp tube. One of the flex sensors stopped working, and to get the pinky finger to work I had to attach it to the same servo as the ring finger. The fourth servo has been removed, and there are only 3 flex sensors attached to the glove. When the flex sensors bend, they change resistance causing a changing voltage to be read by the Arduino as an input. The Arduino then sends an output to the servo according to how much the flex sensor is bent, and the strings attached to the servo move so that the finger can bend.

Useless Machine

My starter project is the useless machine, and the final product is a switch that triggers an arm to push the switch back. The list of parts include the main switch, which opens and closes an electrical circuit, the resistors, which limit the electrical current so that the product does not overheat, the pcb terminals, which connect the motor wires to the battery, the motor, which converts electrical energy into mechanical motion, the bottom switch which triggers the LED light, and the LED or light emitting diode, which operates as a one way current valve that lights up when current flows through it, and the printed circuit board, which holds and connects it all together.  This project taught me what pcb terminals and resistors do. From this project, I have increased my understanding of electrical components, taught me how to solder and desolder, and increased my affinity for using mechanical tools.

3D Printed Robotic Hand

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