Mechatronic Systems Capstone (MEC-150) Spring 2019
Professor William Schwab: [email protected]
Gain real world experience in the control, maintenance, and simulation of automated processes, which utilize advanced manufacturing techniques. The final project will consist of the complete software and hardware integration of all subsystems into a fully functional mechatronic system. Prepare for the industry recognized Siemen’s mechatronics certification.
Professor William Schwab: [email protected]
Gain real world experience in the control, maintenance, and simulation of automated processes, which utilize advanced manufacturing techniques. The final project will consist of the complete software and hardware integration of all subsystems into a fully functional mechatronic system. Prepare for the industry recognized Siemen’s mechatronics certification.
Class Assignment
For the first few classes, students were to practice using a PLC to communicate with either an HMI or a seperate computer that's running basically a HMI. Students did different tests to make sure they knew how to establish a communication with PLC's and other programs on the computer. Some of the programs the PLC ran worked with a simulation program called Factory IO. Then Wonderware was used on a different computer as an HMI screen.
Basic PLC SystemFor the first class, students figured out basic functions of a PLC using knowledge from the previous class (MEC-130), and made a program that would turn on and off using either a HMI display or physical switches connected to a PLC.
Basic Box SorterUsing Factory IO, Wonderware, and other programs, students were to create a program that sorts boxes based off their height and keep track of the sorting. Since Factory IO uses up a lot of memory on the computer, students had to have a PLC connected to two computers. One with Factory IO and then another with Wonderware that simulates a HMI.
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Dobot Candy Grabber
For majority of the semester, students are either given a project or choose a project to make for the school. In my case, the school purchased a robot arm for me and my partner to use called the "Dobot Magician" designed by a Chinese company called Dobot. This was designed so whenever the college has events or professors go and visit other schools to promote our Mechatronics Program, they can show them this device and explain how similar designs and material are used all throughout industry. Here's a link to the programs and other additional things used if you're interested:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yxyKnRRIdFkLHJe-y5pgiop6ibJZbtQ7
For the class's final, students had to present their projects at a college event that invited many local technology companies to come and look at all the projects.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yxyKnRRIdFkLHJe-y5pgiop6ibJZbtQ7
For the class's final, students had to present their projects at a college event that invited many local technology companies to come and look at all the projects.
The whole system was created using a laser cutter, 3D printer, and other essential mechanical parts. Using Solidworks to model most of the parts (Except the Arduino, LCD, and Dobot itself). Then using Solidworks to figure out an ideal layout. After that, it was just ordering parts, and coding the machine (Using an Arduino Mega with an Adafruit Screwshield on it).
Step Sequence Step 1: Pushbutton PB1 is pressed to start the initial sequence, activates the candy piston. Step 2: Candy Piston pushes candy out then hits limit switch, LS1 (Behind the Candy Tower). Then the candy piston goes in the opposite direction. Step 3: The Candy Piston hits limit switch, LS2. A signal is sent to the Dobot to move towards the location of were the candy is. Step 4: The Dobot picks up the candy and starts to move it to the end platform. Step 5: Then the Dobot moves to its final position to drop off the candy and wait for further instructions. |
This is a brief video that goes over the process.
This is a video going more in depth about how everything works. The Arduino Program, the Dobot Program, and all the little features. Since the school is going to be bringing this to events, the professors need to know how it works and to debug any issues they run into.