WEEK 10

Title : Mechanical Design

Introduction

Mechanical parts is the basic elements of all mechanical hardware can come in virtually any shape and size, although composite or modular functionality is highly advantageous in today's competitive market. Factories and manufacturers take these parts and assemble them into finished products, which are then sold on the market. Design is the creation of a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system (as in architectural blueprints, engineering drawings, business processes, circuit diagrams and sewing patterns). So,these project need to prepare the mechanical before start design and installation the mechanical.

Objective

1. To design mechanical parts based eggs incubator.

2. To complete prepared project mechanical parts.

3. To design simple and cheaper mechanical project eggs incubator .  

Project Encountered

For this activity in this week, did't have a problem to prepare and design the mechanical parts.

Project Description

As a project description in this week , I am start to draw simple mechanical parts to build box eggs incubator as show figure 1 below. For preparation mechanical part materials, I get in the way of market Kuala Lumpur such as acrylic, Styrofoam glue,rod, chain,sprocket and etc.

Figure 1: Eggs incubator box view.

Project Outcome 

WEEK 9

Title : Test and Troubleshoot 

Introduction

Circuit test is an example of white box testing where an electrical probe tests a populated printed circuit board (PCB), checking for shorts, opens, resistance, capacitance, and other basic quantities which will show whether the assembly was correctly fabricated.Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem so that it can be solved, and so the product or process can be made operational again.

Objective

1. To test the functionality of the circuit.

2. To troubleshoot the circuit.

3. To complete the electronic circuit parts.

Problem Encountered

During the test circuit project there is a problem in a Real Time Clock (RTC). RTC does not work well and do not show the time and date display on the LCD as required by the project. So,the circuit need to troubleshoot and identify the source of the problem.

Project Description

To solve the problem, there are some technique that I used to identify the component or circuit that was breaker or damage. First, give the board a careful visual inspection for faulty joints, damaged PCB tracks, loose connectors, damaged components, signs of overheating, etc.Components often fail by going open or short circuit. We can check for short circuits while they are still on the board. We can often check for open circuits as well, if we allow for the resistance of the rest of the circuit "in parallel" with the component we want to check. Second, measure the actual voltages with the board powered up, to find what is not as we expected it to be. Next, after check the circuit , I identify that crystal 32.768 KHz was damage and need to change. After I change that component, Real Time Clock (RTC) circuit was function as usual.

Project Outcome

The problem for this week was solved and the video below show the circuit function and run.

WEEK 8

Title : Installation of electronic components.

Introduction

An electronic component is any basic discrete device or physical entity in an electronic system used to affect electrons or their associated fields. Electronic components are mostly industrial products, available in a singular form and are not to be confused with electrical elements, which are conceptual abstractions representing idealized electronic components.

Objective

1.To complete install of electronic components.
2.To complete the hardware part of the project on time.

Problem Encountered

To assemble electronic components, several factors should be considered such as, polarity of some components eg, LED, capacitors and others. Next, the PIN of each component must be soldered or connected correctly and according Datasheet each components.

Project Description

In the assembly of electronic components on a circuit requires a complete equipment such as tools kit(figure 1) to ensure a smooth process of assemble the components and not delayed. Next, true soldering technique - In practice electronics, installing or removing components required soldering. Soldering technique and there should be certain ways. Here are a few techniques that should be followed in the process of soldering electronic components. 

Step of soldering techniques:-

1.Plug solder on electrical contacts .

2.Wait until hot enough Solder .

3.Soldering tip clean with a wet sponge. 

4.If the new solder, solder tip is coated first with a thin tin and evenly. 

5.Clean the material to be soldered (which should be free of fat, rust or other impurities) .

6.Components mounted on the PCB tight (not loose hole), so the components are not rocking .

7.Paste solder tip on the component and the PCB will be hot enough to solder .

8.Then paste the tin in the solder to melt by the end of a sufficient amount to solder.

9.Lift solder and tin, wait a few seconds until the tin to harden and not rocking component. completed.

  Figure 1: Tools kit.

Project Outcome

Based on picture below, its show the complete activity for the this week.

WEEK 7

Title: Etching-PCB

Introduction 

A printed circuit board (PCB) mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic components using conductive tracks, pads and other features etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. PCBs can be single sided (one copper layer), double sided (two copper layers) or multi-layer. Conductors on different layers are connected with plated-through holes called vias. Advanced PCBs may contain components - capacitors, resistors or active devices - embedded in the substrate.

Objective

1. To etched PCB circuit using manual technique.
2. To design the circuit based on the actual circuit project applications.

Project Encountered

For this week there are no problems to complete the project progress

Project Description

Step 1

First, save circuit design from PCB Wizard software. Then,print the circuit PCB  the bottom side layer on a piece of paper from A4 sticker paper. Use a laser printer, not an inkjet. If your printer uses ink cartridges and not toner cartridges, it will not work.

Step 2

Stick the A4 sticker paper that has been printed with the project circuit on the PCB board. Use masking tape to stick it on.

Step 3

Set the iron on the hottest setting. Allow the iron to get hot. Firmly press the iron onto the back of the A4 sticker paper, sandwiching it between the copper clad and the iron. Pressing hard without moving the iron, hold the iron perfectly still for one full minute. Do not move the iron at all during this minute, and push hard, really hard!.Then,rub for 5 minutes and remove the adhesive paper slowly to ensure the right brass mounts on the PCB board.

Step 4

Soak the PCB circuit in the container with acid ferric chloride for a few minutes and make sure there is no copper detached from the circuit. After that, it ready to be installed PCB circuit electronic components. At Table 1 below is component list for etching PCB circuit.

                                          Table 1: Component list for etching circuit.                                          

Project Outcome

As a project outcome for this week, here has some picture for progress project in this week activity.

WEEK 6

Title: Provide components

Introduction 

In preparing the project components, several factors must be taken into account. Among them is the projects budget. Each project has its own budget and an estimated budget for the incubator project was made during FYP1 proposal. Second, the list of components is an important part in the preparation of project components.

Objective

1. To find the components associated with the project eggs incubator.
2. To find a cost-effective components.

Project Encountered

From this activity, it does not give much problem because the component that re-listed  is still based on the previous list component's and only certain component is changed according actual project.

Project Description

All components that needed in this project is examined in terms of their specifications for the purposes to validate the project prototype meets before making any purchasing. After that, the components that has been examined and verified suitable to used is recorded in shortlist. Below is the results that has obtained from this activity:-

Figure 1: Shortlist components

Project outcome

As a project outcome from this activity, all the components that needed in this project has been investigate and recorded. Below is components that already buy at Jalan Pasar,Kuala Lumpur.

     Figure 2: The components that already buy.

WEEK 5

Title : Combination all part of a project program.

Objective

1.To combine all the parts of the program project.

2.To complete program project Micro-controller Based Eggs Incubator.

3.To solved program project using proteus and MPLAB softwafe.

Introduction

In the last week there are several problems to complete the program. But, all the problems can be resolved successfully after research with reference notes and micro-controller programming books.To associate with each program according to project the desired functionality is not an easy technique to consider. This is because, each program has its own function and is closely related to other programs. 

Problem Encountered

For progress this week does not have much of a problem to integrate the project program. Process to combine programs that have been completed not like the process of making the program before. This is because, in order to make the program according to the function of actual projects are very complex and require time to prepare and ready in case it does not mean the project has been successful because it has to be tested with a mechanical project to function as required.

Project Description

To incorporate the project program, 'MPLAB software' is used to get the results. If the program is running success it will show 'Build success', then if fail show 'Build failed'.To know a program work or not, 'Proteus software' is used such as figure 2 at project outcome parts.Figure 1 below show the program project was successful run.

                                         Figure 1 : The result program complete 'Build successful'

Project Outcome

Below is the result obtained from this activity :-

Figure 1: Eggs incubator circuit show the project 'Run'.

Video show the project run using Proteus software