User:Jaysongreen/ENES-100/Project maze solver

Week 1 Narrative
I downloaded Autocad 2014 to begin drawing sketches for the linus clone model to prototype on the 3D printer. I got the dimensions for the robots outer shell from my partner, Ed Peterson. I then tried to create a sketch in Autocad using my previous knowledge of 3D drawing to start drawing. I found out that my previous knowledge was not compatible with the commands and functions on the new program. I could create shapes in the sketching mode, but i could not figure out how to dimension and constrain the shape to fit the Linus Clone's dimensions. I downloaded Autodesk Inventor 2013, which I used in High School, to start my drawings instead of Autocad.

Week 2 Narrative
Downloaded Autodesk Inventor 2013, and familiarized myself with the new additions to the program. I got briefed to what I missed while I was gone and jumped into dimensioning and drawing the robot.

Week 3 Narrative
I started to create the top and bottom platforms for the linus clone robot. Top platform: I started with the top platform, because it was the easiest to draw and would take the least amount of time. The top platform is just there to protect the arduino and the arduino shield. The top platform has three holes in it to connect to the bottom platform with screws. The top platform is a rectangle 6.5cm by 7cm. So I started in the sketch by drawing a rectangle and then constraining the rectangle by adding length and width dimensions. In autodesk to make your sketch three dimensional you have to exit sketch mode. After exiting sketch mode I gave the 2d rectangle depth. To do this I extruded the rectangle out by 3.26mm to give it a depth measurement. The drawings for the platform are almost complete all that is left is to add the holes. To add the holes to the platform I had to choose an already existing plane or surface to draw and dimension on. The holes are located on the face of the platform so that is the surface I decided to draw on. Now in sketch mode I drew the circles on the platform. I then added the dimensions to the holes on the platform. To fully constrain the hole I had to dimension the hole from the distance of one side of the rectangle to the distance of another side of the rectangle, one perpendicular to the side previously used. For the hole in the top right hand corner of the platform, I dimensioned the hole from the top side of the rectangle and the right side of the rectangle. 1.6cm from the top and .6cm from the right side. That hole was fully constrained after I added the diameter of the hole. The holes have a diameter of 2.38mm. I followed the same steps to dimension, constrain, and execute the other 2 holes. To punch the holes through you platform you have to exit sketch mode. After you exit it gives you the option to punch a hole through that has already been fully constrained and dimensioned. I punched the holes all the way through the depth of the rectangle or 3.26mm. Bottom platform: The bottom platform had the same length, width, and height as the top platform. I followed the same steps to sketch and extrude the rectangle to give it the same dimensions. The bottom platform of the robot is more complex than the top half. The bottom platform has a lip on the bottom of it that attaches to the light sensors, which enable the robot to follow a line. So I sketched the lip of the robot by using the same steps as I mentioned earlier. Create a drawing plane, create a shape, dimension, constrain, and extrude. The lip is just a bunch of rectangles of different lengths that are stacked on top of one another. I have completed most of the lip drawings and dimensioning, but I am not done. Completion of the lip will be done in week 4. Problems: The only problem that I encountered was that when the original dimensioning of the robot inaccurate. Halfway through completing the bottom platform I noticed that the dimensions for the length and the width of the platform was off. The dimensions were given to me as being 6.5*7cm. But I decided to accurately measure the platform. The dimensions came out to being 6.25*7.4cm. I had to go back into the beginning 2d sketches of the platform and change the dimensions. After changing the dimensions of the platform I had to also change the dimensions of the lip of the platform, so that everything was flush. I had to change how far I extruded the lip from 6.5cm to 6.25cm. Other than that small problem everything went smoothly.

Week 4 Narrative
Week four mainly consisted of adding the final dimensions and drawings of the lip layers that hold the sensors. Here is a front view of the finished lip layers. Each layer was a different sketch and extrusion. After finishing the sketches for all three lip layers, I made sure that the dimensions for the top and bottom holes were accurate. I used the dial caliper to ensure accuracy and precision with the top platform matching the hole dimensions of the bottom platform. After completing most of the dimensions for the platforms, I decided to create an assembly file in Autodesk. The assembly file allows you to constrain the platform. I used the flush command to constrain the top and bottom platforms directly on top of each other. The flush constraint assembles components adjacent to one another with their faces flush. This allows you to check the hole dimension,to make sure that everything was properly aligned and ready for printing.