User:1sfoerster/enes100/fall2013/poLaserPrinter-503

Problem Statement
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math needs to be displayed. A laser printer can be taken apart, mounted on plywood and then mounted on a wall. The printer's parts could be functional, but exposed so everyone can see how it works. The printer's parts could turn on when someone walks by.

Team Members
The team that worked on this project includes Trevorne Nisbett, Chris Snyder, Zach Krell, Claude Moutome.

Summary
Our main objective was to make all the gears and motors inside a printer visible for people to see. We did this by disassembling the printer and removing many insignificant features. We also attempted to add an LED and motion sensor. The LED was going to replace the laser inside the printer because the laser can cause harm to a person's eyes. The motion sensor was also wanted because it would detect someone walking by. This would result in the movement of all the gears inside the printer. Due to time constraints, we were unable to add the LED and the motion sensor successfully.

Story
First, the entire group found diagrams on the assembly of the specified laser printer we were using. We all then began disassembling the printer by removing all the white, plastic housing. Along the way, Chris, Trevorne, and Zach all numerously tested the printer to ensure that it still functioned at maximum capacity. Zach and Trevorne completely disassembled the printer until it was no longer functioning because all the motors and gears were taken out. Even through this setback, Trevorne, Chris, and Zach began reassembling the printer and troubleshooting. Meanwhile, Claude and Trevorne was on a mission to replace the laser with an LED. Eventually, the printer was operating again and Chris and Zach began removing plastic and metal pieces that covered the gears. This enabled us to see inside the printer and have a understanding of how it operated. Finally, Trevorne and Chris started mounting the expanded printer, along with a switch, on the plywood.

Material List
1. Plywood, (36inches by 28inches)

2. HP LaserJet 4000

3. Various hardware-(4)2in screws

4. 2 ft of small gauge wire

4. Tools- Screwdrivers, Dremel, Hand Cutters, Scissors, Hand Drill, Soldering Iron, Wire Cutters

All our materials were provided to us by Howard Community College, thus resulting in no expense to our group.

Implementation

 * We have tested along the way and as we were reassembling printer gears and rollers would get jammed causing motors to burn out but other than that our only issues have been wiring

Next Steps
We just got printer back together and working again there are a number of ways we can go from here:
 * make led shine on mirror while running motor that spins the mirror
 * add a motion sensor detecting people walking by to start running the laser printer
 * make laser printer run longer or think it needs to print something to show more functions
 * reverse the motor on the laser printer