University of Michigan Final Report ME 350 Winter 2013 $tAnCe WiLl MaKe HeR dAnCe Dai Phuc Do, Mario Matanovic, Marcus Papadopoulos, Paarth Shah, John Takacs 2013 Page|2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction and Specifications ............................................................................................................. 4 2. Motion Generator Description .............................................................................................................. 5 3. 4. 5. 2.1 Design Process ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Design Selection .................................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Lincages .................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 CAD with Descriptive Pictures ......................................................................................................... 8 2.5 ADAMS and Loading Analysis ........................................................................................................ 13 2.6 Changes from Gate 1 to Final Design ........................................................................................... 18 2.7 Final Design Testing Results .......................................................................................................... 18 Energy Conversion and Transmission .................................................................................................. 19 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Transmission Design ........................................................................................................................ 19 3.2.1 Transmission Ratio Selection ............................................................................................... 19 3.2.2 Power Discussion ................................................................................................................. 21 3.2.3 Transmission Type Selection ................................................................................................ 22 3.3 Mounting Design................................................................................................................................. 22 3.4 Transmission/Mount Loading....................................................................................................... 24 3.5 Final Energy Conversion Performance ...................................................................................... 25 Safety and Motor Controls .................................................................................................................. 26 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Capabilities and Limitation of each sensor............................................................................... 26 4.3 Threshold value selection ............................................................................................................... 27 4.4 Changes made to Arduino Code .................................................................................................... 27 4.5 Sensor Mounting................................................................................................................................. 28 Design Critique and Evaluation ............................................................................................................ 28 Appendix A: Individual Design ..................................................................................................................... 31 A.1 Dai Phuc Do................................................................................................................................................ 31 A.2 Mario Mantanovic.................................................................................................................................... 32 A.3 Marcus Papadopoulos ............................................................................................................................ 34 A.4 Paarth Shah................................................................................................................................................ 35 A.5 John Takacs................................................................................................................................................ 37 Page|3 Appendix B: Motion Generator Section ...................................................................................................... 39 B.1 Detailed Design Drawings and Manufacturing Plans ................................................................. 39 B.2 Assembly Sequence................................................................................................................................. 39 B.3 Bill of Materials for Motion Generation........................................................................................... 44 Appendix C: Energy Conversion ................................................................................................................... 45 C.1 Detailed Design Drawings and Manufacturing Plans ................................................................. 45 C.2 Assembly Sequence ................................................................................................................................. 45 C.3 Bill of Materials for Energy Conversion ........................................................................................... 45 Appendix D: Safety and Motor Controls ...................................................................................................... 46 D.1 Wiring Diagram........................................................................................................................................ 46 D.2 Controller Code With comments ....................................................................................................... 46 D.3 Calculation for encoder count ............................................................................................................ 46 D.4 Drawings and Manufacturing Plans for Safety/Motor Controls ............................................. 46 D.5 Bill of Materials for Safety/Motor Controls ................................................................................... 46 Page|4 1. Introduction and Specifications When confined to a wheelchair, even the most mundane tasks require an extraordinary amount of effort to complete. Take, for example, the task of carrying and accessing a backpack around school. In order to make this simple task easier, we were given the task of creating a linkage mechanism that can swing around a wheelchair and allow someone to easily access the contents of their backpack. The mechanism must be designed and using mostly given materials, and include a transmission system to most efficiently transmit power from one linkage to another. In addition, the design should be safe to handle and look respectable. In doing this, it is important to keep the volume low, while also minimizing power and the time it takes to reach the user. The design should be compact while also bringing the backpack as close and accessible to the user as possible. In the table below are the design requirements for our project. Table 1: Mobile Backpack Carrier device design specifications Label Description Target Min Max Measurement Method Volume Volume in the starting position Minimize N/A 3000in3 Inch scale, used to measure length, height, and width Angle Offset Angle of the backpack holder in the final position, relative to the armrest of the wheelchair 0 degrees -15 degrees 15 degrees Machinist’s protractor Horizontal Offset Horizontal distance from the armrest (outside edge) to the farthest point on the backpack holder Minimize 2 in 10 in Inch scale Forward Offset Maximize 6 in 17 in Inch scale Perpendicular distance from the centerline (connecting the rear posts of the wheelchair) to the farthest point on the backpack holder Page|5 Travel Time Total travel time of the 9 sec mechanism from the starting position (rear) to the ending position (side) Decelerated Speed Speed of input link during the last 30 degrees of travel N/A Power Power used by motor Minimize 6 sec 12 sec Encoder and LabVIEW (average of 3 measurements) N/A 10 degrees per sec Encoder and LabVIEW (evaluating speed in the last 10 degrees of travel to allow the speed to stabilize after decel.) N/A N/A Measurements of voltage and current In this report we will discuss the design process that we used to design this linkage mechanism. First we designed the motion generator using programs such as Lincages, Solidworks and ADAMS. We picked the best design that our team came up with and began to consider energy conversion. This report outlines the steps we took for energy conversion and transmission from torque measurements to transmission type selection. Lastly we worked on motor controls and safety using sensors and the encoder included in our motor set up. In the end we were able to design a successful linkage that met or exceeded all of the design requirements. Overall, our project came out to be a success. We met all the criteria given forth by the specifications. Our forward offset reached 15.625 inches, which is very close to the maximum of 17. Our horizontal offset was also at 6.75 inches, which is well within the 10 inch maximum. Our volume, which was down to 884.36 inches^3, is less than 30% of the admissible value. In addition, the angular offset was very close the 0 degree target. The mechatronics portions of our specifications were also met, and very close to targeted values. Our travel time clocked in at 9.286 seconds in comparison to the 9-second target. The decelerated speed was kept within 10 degrees/second and was measured at 9.1 deg/second. Finally, our power draw was kept very low at 5.94309 Watts. 2. Motion Generator Description 2.1 Design Process The design process required the use of three programs, LINCAGES, Solidworks, and ADAMS. Firstly we used LINCAGES to generate our desired motion. Using 3 points, we defined a path for our precision point, a point on the coupler. By moving the ground pivots and moving pivots, the shape of the Page|6 path traced by the precision point changed. We did this until a desired path was achieved. LINCAGES provided us with link and coupler lengths, which we then took into Solidworks. Using Solidworks, we constructed our linkage mechanisms. The dimensions of our components were defined by LINCAGES. Having a three dimensional representation of the mechanism assisted in verification of the device. We were able to see if the linkage was capable of the range of motion, i.e. no interferences, required and modify our designs accordingly. Once we were satisfied with our design, we took the linkage into ADAMS for dynamical analysis. With ADAMS, we simulated the forces and torques acting on our linkage. One point we were concerned with was maximum forces and torques on the joints as these would affect bushings and bearings. Another point of concern we had was the amount of deflection in each link. Deflection in the link would create undesirable out of plane loads on the joint and so we wanted to minimize this. 2.2 Design Selection Each team member designed a linkage mechanism. To choose our final design, we compared key characteristics of each design. We strove to meet specifications defined by the project overview document. Firstly, we sought to minimize the volume of the mechanism in its collapsed position. The volume was defined as the smallest rectangular box (length, width, and height), parallel to the connection points, that encased the device including all elements such as the linkage, hard stops, sensors, mounts, motors, etc. An upper volume limit of 3000 in3 was emplaced as the mechanism would be too large for effective operation. Once we knew that the mechanism would fit into our specifications, we wanted to ensure the accessibility of the backpack. Ease of use was an essential concept in designing the mechanism. We wanted the backpack to be simply reachable to the user. We quantified this by comparing the angle, horizontal, and forward offset, of each device in its final position. The angle offset was defined as the angle of the backpack holder in the final position, relative to the armrest of the wheelchair. We sought a horizontal offset of 0 degrees as this would mean the backpack was parallel to the armrest, the most comfortable position for the user to access the backpack. The lower limit for the angle offset was -15° and the upper limit was 15°. The horizontal offset was defined as the horizontal distance from the armrest (outside edge) to the farthest point on the backpack holder. Minimizing the horizontal offset was our aim, with an allowed minimum offset of 2 inches and a maximum offset of 10 inches. The forward offset was defined as the perpendicular distance from the centerline (connecting the rear posts of the wheelchair) to the farthest point on the backpack holder. We aimed to maximize the forward offset to allow the user to reach more comfortably forwards rather than backwards to use the backpack. We allowed a minimum forward offset of 6 inches and a maximum of 17 inches. The accessibility of the linkage was important but we had to also consider the forces and torques required to operate the mechanism. Attention to the dynamics involved with each mechanism was crucial in our design selection. If the torques and forces were unmanageable, the device would be unable to function. We sought to minimize the torques and forces in each design. Page|7 We have compiled the measurements and assigned scores to each design. We scaled the torque and force points at half because we are unsure of the motors capabilities. Mario’s design accumulated the most points meaning it excelled in our benchmark characteristics and so we chose it as our final design. Table 2: Design Selection Pugh Chart Criteria Weight Score John Score Mario Score Paarth Score Marcus Score Phuc Volume (in^3) 2 382.44 0 293.33 3 212.64 3 327.87 1 286.86 2 Angle Offset 2 0 0 0 3 17 1 0 3 0 3 Horizontal Offset (in) 2 1.82 0 3.75 3 2.73 3 5 2 7.57 1 Forward Offset (in) 2 7.21 0 13 3 8.18 1 15.3 3 11.01 2 Torque (lbf) 1 13.87 0 16.72 1 8.4 3 16.72 1 10.92 3 Force (lb) 1 19.01 0 15.2 2 34.8 1 15.2 2 15.89 2 Total Score 0 27 20 21 21 2.3 Lincages As mentioned, the first step of the design process involved designing a workable linkage with lengths of each link. Included in this is the length of the coupler joints, however, we are free to choose a coupler shape as necessary. Another important usage of Lincages is the inclusion of the transmission angle graph. A low transmission angle puts unnecessary stress on the motor which may often not have enough power to overcome frictional forces acting between the linkages. By keeping our angle above the ‘magic number,’ of 30 (as supplied to us by the GSI), we are able to stay in the safe zone and verify that our linkage should have no issues going through the entire loop. Page|8 Figure 1: Lincage of our final design model 2.4 CAD with Descriptive Pictures In the final design the angle offset is 0 degrees, the forward offset is 13.32 inches, the horizontal offset is 4.47 inches and the box volume is 553.5 cubic inches. Page|9 Figure 2: Top view of the linkage in collapsed position Figure 3: Zoomed-in Isometric view of the linkage in collapsed position P a g e | 10 Figure 4: Isometric view of the linkage in collapsed position Figure 5: Top View of the linkage during motion to ensure the backpack does not hit the tire P a g e | 11 Figure 6: Top View of the linkage during motion to ensure the backpack does not hit the tire Figure 7: Top view of the linkage in extended position P a g e | 12 Figure 8: Isometric View of the Linkage in extended position Figure 9: Front View of the Linkage in Extended Position P a g e | 13 Figure 10: Zoomed view of Input joint in Extended Position Figure 11: Cross Section View of Input Joint in Extended Position 2.5 ADAMS and Loading Analysis P a g e | 14 Figure 12: Main Isometric View Showcasing Joint Types Figure 13: Top Isometric View Showcasing the 5° adapter tilt as well as the 12 lbf point force Table 3: Final ADAMS forces analyzed without friction Joint Minimum Force in y Maximum Force (lbf) (mag.) in y (lbf) (mag.) Minimum Torque (lbf ft) (mag.) Maximum Torque (lbf ft) (mag.) Input –Ground 0 31.7 0 27.08 Input –Coupler Output –Ground Output –Coupler 0.8 0 0.1 31.3 17.5 17.7 0 0 0 12.08 14.58 17.17 From max forces and torques, we can see that they are indeed manageable. Although we do not yet have the correct information for frictional forces, they will be minimized by the use of bronze thrust washers as well as bearings and bushings (explored later in this report). Using these forces, we can analyze the links to check for deflection in the links. In addition, when using the stock bushings, we P a g e | 15 confirmed no force exceeds the ratings of the bushings (up to 2000 psi). This is key as the bushings will not be put under abnormally high stress and will last the entire rated lifetime. In addition, the bolts can take up to 84,000 psi, leaving room for error, even when adding the friction. Table 4: ADAMS forces on individual joints in only the y direction (gravity = negative y) Joint Maximum Force (lbf) in y-direction Input –Ground 31.9 Input –Coupler Output –Ground 32.5 -17.25 Output –Coupler 17.7 Using these forces and free body diagrams, we can construct beam bending diagrams from normal free body diagrams. For the input link, we have a force of 32.5 lbf downwards. If we assume the input is fixed at the ground, we can compute the total dislocation of the input link. Using this 32.5 lbf, we can use the formula for a beam bending with a point load: Where P is the point load, l is the length from the fixed wall (in the input case, 10.25”), E is the Young’s Modulus and I is the second moment of area. For a hollow tube, the second moment of area is given by: E is also given by 1.015*10^7 psi. Plugging into the beam bending formula, we get a maximum deflection of 0.0202”. This creates a moment of 333.1 lbf-inches in the ground plate joint. For the output link, we use the same formulas (as the lengths are equivalent). However, this time, the force is 17.7 lbf. Plugging into our formula, we see a deflection of 0.011”. This creates a moment of 181.4 lbf-inches in the ground plate joint. P a g e | 16 Unlike the input and ground joints, the coupler is not fixed. Deflection can be calculated by using a combination of deflections from the input and output link. This gives us a value of 0.1524” deflection. The overall deflection from input to backpack holder can also be calculated. Once again, using the beam deflection formula Using the point force of 12 lbf, and a length of 18.55” (full reach of backpack holder), our deflection comes to 0.0441” of deflection. This deflection can be quite high at times, almost nearing an entire inch. In order to alleviate these loads and deflections, multiple steps have been taken. First, the input link is in between a clevis holder (or sandwiched between two ground supports). By adding another ground support on top, the beam is fixed in two places rather than just coming into contact with the ground in one place. Figure 14: Ground Input Link P a g e | 17 In addition, the geometry of the links has been chosen as one that is favorable to deflection. Rather than choosing a flat aluminum plate to make the links out of, the square tube gives a favorable geometry proven by the second moment of area giving a higher number. Minimizing friction and contact at the joints is good design option as it puts less stress on the bolts and bearings. The addition of thrust washers addresses this issue and is available at every high stress point of interest on the mechanism (most notably, the moving joints). Figure 15: Input to Coupler Figure 16: Coupler to Output P a g e | 18 Figure 17: Output to Ground In addition to the joints having washers to minimize friction, the stacking or layering of linkages above and below the base plate offers advantages in terms of compressive and tensile forces. By having these counteract each other, we can alleviate some of the load off the joints. 2.6 Changes from Gate 1 to Final Design After assembling our product post Gate 1, a few issues arose regarding our design. First, our torque values were very high. Due to precision issues and just undervalued torque values, we hit very high torques when testing our mechanism at the given 3 degree angle. We changed the angle at which our base plate sits to alleviate the high torque. The base plate angle was changed by using screws through the bottom of the wheelchair adapter. This allows the angle to be adjusted by screwing in the bolts further if necessary. In addition to this, some minor changes were made to the overall design. The dowel pin used previously was removed in favor of an angle iron. Although the dowel pin was simple, it did not provide the flexibility of an adjustable iron angle. In addition, spacers used to clamp the input link were made shorter in order to accept larger sprockets (this is expanded upon later). Further additions were made to the coupler in the form of the placement of the backpack holder location. The backpack adapter was moved forward in order to provide enough clearance for the backpack and the sprockets. Finally, the overall length of the baseplate changed slightly in order to save unneeded volume. 2.7 Final Design Testing Results Listed here are the final designs testing results. These are the values for offset and volume of our final linkage design. When compared to the requirements (Table 1. p4), we can see that we meet all the requirements and excelled in angle offset, forward offset and volume. The reason these are different between from what is discussed earlier (Section 2.4) is because of the addition of motor mounts and P a g e | 19 energy transformation. The horizontal offset was also altered by the coupler spacers we had to include to make sure the backpack did not touch the chain and sprocket. The angle offset is adjustable via the hard stops and we selected this location to optimize other values. Table 5: Final Offset and Volume Values of the Final Design Criteria Value Horizontal Offset Forward Offset Angle Offset 6.75 inches 15.625 inches 2 degrees Volume 884.36 cubic inches 3. Energy Conversion and Transmission 3.1 Introduction In order to transmit motion from the motor to the input link, a transmission system must be implemented. A transmission allows the user to directly change the speed, direction, or amount of force that the motor can output. Due to the constraints of the motor, such as the torque output, a transmission is necessary to achieve the required torque to rotate our mechanism around. By measuring the forces on the input link in lab, we were able to determine the maximum torque required by the input link. In addition, our mechanism is required to slow down to below 10 degrees/second during the final 30 degrees of travel. While in motion, the mechanism should also draw as little power as possible. From these specifications, we were able to choose a suitable transmission system to implement in our design. 3.2 Transmission Design In this section we will discuss the process taken to design the transmission. This will include ratio selection, power discussion and transmission type. 3.2.1 Transmission Ratio Selection As mentioned before, the force measured in the lab led us to our torque calculations. Using the force gauge, we determined our maximum force to be 52.9 ounces. Using the formula: where distance, d, is the length between the holes of the input link (10.2 inches), we determined our maximum torque to be 539.58 ounce-inches. In order to properly use the torque-speed curve, the required speed is also necessary. This can be found using the given specifications of the required time to be a total of 9 seconds. In addition, the final 30 degrees of travel must be at a speed of 10 degrees or slower. Using ADAMS to measure our total angular P a g e | 20 travel of the input link, we calculated a total of 213 degrees. From the formula of distance over time, we can separate this into two components and find the maximum travel speed. Solving for gives us 30.5 degrees/sec or 5.083 rpm. From here, we can use the given values of the motor such as the stall torque and no load speed to find an acceptable gear ratio. Scaling down the Torque-Speed Curve from 12V to 9V gives us the following graph: Torque-Speed Curves 300 250 200 150 12V 100 9V 50 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Speed (rpm) Figure 18: Torque-Speed Curve of the Motor at 12V and 9V This graph can be calculated from Tnew = T0 * N and ωnew = ω0/N where N is the ratio 9/12. From here, we can read off the graph (or do calculations) which give us a no load speed of 60RPM and a stall torque of 187.5 oz-inch. By changing the gear ratio, we are then able to encapsulate the requirements of our mechanism (5.083 RPM and 539.58 oz-inch) via changing the slope of the curve (and thus, the transmission). A 1:6 gear ratio gives the following curve: P a g e | 21 Torque-Speed Curve with 1:6 transmission ratio 1200 1000 800 600 Torque Speed Curve with 1:6 transmission 400 Required Torque & Speed 200 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Speed (rpm) Figure 19: Torque-Speed Curve with 1:6 Transmission ratio and our target point Although this value is just barely inside our torque speed curve (and thus, not giving us much of a safety factor), we can remedy this by reducing our total travel distance or reducing our total torque necessary at that point. 3.2.2 Power Discussion In order to find power, we can use our motor constants to find the current required by the motor to operate at the given torque: Using the motor specifications given on the Pololu website, we are able to calculate the motor constant Kt. Using the scaled no load torque of 187.5 oz-in. and no load current of 3.75 amps, we can calculate Kt = 50. Given a T of 539.58 oz-inch (3.8103 Newton-meters), a Vb of 9V and an omega of 0.53229 radians/sec, we can calculate the current required: im = 539.58 / 6 / 50 = 1.7986 A. From here, we can calculate the actual input power: From the values above (Torque and speed), we can also calculate our maximum power output: In order to minimize power, I * V must be reduced. Since the voltage is set, our only option is to reduce current, I. From the motor constant equations, this can be minimized via minimizing our torque in a multitude of options. Our main source of torque can come from lowering friction. P a g e | 22 3.2.3 Transmission Type Selection Our design implements a chain and sprocket system. Several key factors played into this decision including the availability of gear ratios, flexibility, manufacturing tolerances, and cost. As calculated before, our design implements a 1:6 gear ratio. The available sprockets offered an acceptable reduction ratio in our range, which the gears did not. Manufacturing tolerances also played into this decision: gears require high manufacturing precision to keep gears meshed perfectly, whereas the chain and sprockets do not. The chain and sprockets were chosen over the belt and pulleys due to the larger torques that can be transmitted from one sprocket to the other. In addition, slippage of the mechanism will not hinder our mechanism as it may with the belt and pulleys. Finally, the cost of purchasing the chain and sprockets was significantly lower than the gears. Despite all its pros, the sprockets do have a few setbacks. First of all, the mechanism can be very loud. Due to the sprockets and chains both being made out of metal, any sort of interference will cause lots of noise. The next problem is the speed transmitted from the chain drives, which are on average lower than those of gears and belt and pulleys. This is an issue that can be addressed by changing the overall travel of the input length. The required gear ratio chosen is exactly 6, which was configured through a chain and sprocket system of 48 gears to 8 gears. These parts were found using the SDP-SI online chain and sprocket catalogue. The chosen chain is a #25 chain. 3.3 Mounting Design In order for the transmission to actually transfer motion, specific mounts and joints must be fabricated. The first torque transmission comes from the motor to the input sprocket. Due to the motor having a D shaped shaft right out of the box, this interfaces well with a set screw. In addition, the input sprocket contains a built-in hub allowing easy use of a set screw. P a g e | 23 Figure 20: View of driving sprocket attached to the motor Figure 21: Cross Section view of the set screw attaching the driving sprocket to the motor The second torque transfer comes from the output sprocket connected to the input link of the mechanism. In order to provide a solid support, a ¼” off-axis dowel pin is attached to sprocket as well as to the input link. In addition, the output sprocket freely rotates about the shoulder joint through the use of a bushing and needle bearings. This allows the friction to be as close to negligible as possible. The dowel pin is press fit into the sprocket in order for one mechanism to have a steady fit. P a g e | 24 Figure 22: View of driven sprocket attached to the input link Figure 23: Cross section view of the driven sprocket attached to the motor via a key whole These additions do very little to change our initial values measured in gate 1. At most, it will add a very small amount of friction due to the interfaces between linkages. The motor mount adds height which will increase our overall volume (height increase about 1.5 inches). This motor mount did not change any of our offset or travel values from motion generation. 3.4 Transmission/Mount Loading Transmission of power from the motor to the linkage was achieved through locking the sprockets to both the motor shaft and then the output link. To lock the sprocket to the motor shaft, we utilized a set screw through the hub of the sprocket that comes into contact with the motor shaft. Because the prevalent mode of failure would be shearing, we looked to determine the stress across the set screw face. The force, F, required to hold the sprocket to the motor shaft is given by P a g e | 25 where T is the torque output by the motor, and R is the distance between the center of the motor shaft and the point of contact between the set screw and motor shaft. The shearing stress then is given by where r is the radius of the set screw. Using a motor torque T of 5.615 pound inch, R of 0.39 inches, and a set screw radius of 0.05 inches we determine the stress to be 1833 pounds per square inch. To connect the motion of the output sprocket to our input link we utilized a dowel pin. A tight fit clearance hole is drilled through the input link and through the face of the sprocket. We aligned the clearance holes and then linked the two components together by sliding a dowel pin into each hole. Because the dowel pin was offset from the center of the sprocket, the shear stress of the dowel was given by where T is the torque of the input link sprocket, r is the distance between the dowel and the center of the sprocket, and J is second moment of inertia. Using a torque of 33.69 pound inches, a radius of 1.15 inches, and a second moment of inertia of 677.41 inches cubed we determined the shear stress to be 0.057 psi. 15.29 lb f Figure 24: Loading on Motor Mount Force translates to the motor mount assembly (68N) was determined by using the max torque needed to move the assembly for preliminary testing. We determined deflection by using the deflection and moment of inertia equations above and assuming the motor mount was beam being deflected. We determine the deflection to be .0021 inches. 3.5 Final Energy Conversion Performance Our final measurements were, as expected, not exactly as calculated in the report. Rather than the calculated power draw of 16 watts, we were able to minimize this down to 5.94309 watts. This is due to P a g e | 26 us managing to alleviate the 3-5 degree angle offset of the wheelchair adapter. By doing so, we were able to reduce friction between the components which allowed a smoother path of motion. Our travel time also did not meet the exact 9.0 specifications. Due to factors such as inconsistent friction amounts, the reaction of the encoder to the Arduino code (in regards to slowing down at the 30 degree mark), and our path of travel not exactly what we measured in ADAMS/Solidworks, we were not able to reach exactly 9 seconds. The deceleration speed was also not exactly 10 degrees/second. Due to the previously mentioned factors (friction, etc.), this value needed to be adjusted in our code in order to more accurately meet the 9 second mark. 4. Safety and Motor Controls 4.1 Introduction Although the linkage may work by turning on the motor and running it, our project was not ‘smart’ in any way. It would not stop unless the power was cut, and it would not detect anything in the way of its path. In order to achieve these goals and keep our mechanism safe for real world use, a multitude of sensors and accompanying computer code were used. In addition, in order for these to interact with the encoder attached to the motor, an Arduino microcontroller, along with accompanying code, was used which allowed the mechanism to stop and react to real world interferences. The sensors chosen, the rocker switch, limit switch, and IR sensors, all served different purposes in our design, but each had a common use; to keep the design safe. 4.2 Capabilities and Limitation of each sensor For this design project we were given three different types of sensors to control the motor and ensure the safe use of the linkage. The first type of sensor was a single pole, double throw rocker switch (35-695: Jameco). This switch can be pressed into two directions (forward and backward) but returns to rest neutral position when it is not being pressed. This switch would be used by the user to control the entire mechanism. If the forward switch is being held the linkage moves into the extended position. If the backward position is being pressed the linkage returns to the collapsed position. The linkage will only be moved while one of the positions is being pressed on the rocker switch. This switch acts a user control of the linkage but it does have some limitations. The user has to hold the switch the entire time of travel instead of just tapping the button and allowing the linkage to swing around. The second type of sensor was a limit switch (187733: Jameco). This switch is only activated when something is hitting it. As soon and the object is removed the switch is turned off. We used these switches to determine the extended and collapsed positions. One switch would be pressed in each position. This would ensure that the motor could not keep running past the desired location. This is good to prevent damage to a motor trying to drive past a hard stop. This switch worked very well for our project but also had some limitations. Due to its size this switch was very hard to mount and it also only was on when something was hitting it. This means that the motor only turned off right when it hit the P a g e | 27 hard stops. This sometimes allowed the motor to run for too long and the linkage was strongly driven into the hard stops. The third type of sensor was an infrared proximity sensor (GP2D120XJ00F: Sparkfun). This was used for the safe use of the mechanism. These were put in positions where it would we unsafe to have an object while the mechanism was moving. The proximity sensors can detect objects and how far away they are. We put one sensor and the front of the mechanism to ensure that the linkage does not hit anything while extending. Using varying threshold the motor will stop if something gets within a few inches of the front of the linkage. The other point we used was in between the input and output link. We considered this a pinch point and did not want object to get stuck in there. These sensors were great to ensure a clear path for the linkage as it moved through its path but they were not flawless. The proximity sensors are not very accurate at a far range so the linkage is only stopped when something gets very close to it (i.e. within a couple of inches). The proximity sensors also send out the infrared signal in a cone formation so it is hard to pin point one location to test. At further ranges the proximity sensor will pick up more than just the pinch or danger point. 4.3 Threshold value selection In order for the sensors to work with our specific design, the encoder and each sensor had to be calibrated in a different manner. Due to the simplistic nature of the limit switch, these did not need any sort of calibration, as they were either turned on or off depending on the physical position of the switch. In addition, the rocker switch did not require any calibration as it served to move the mechanism forwards and backwards. However, the IR sensors and encoder used changing values that were specific to our mechanism. The IR sensors used a “threshold” value in order to determine whether or not to send a signal to the motor to stop running. The values output by the sensor were determined based on how far away an object was to the sensor, and thus, were chosen based on a guess and check method. Depending on the placement of the sensor relative to the mechanism, these were given differing values. The encoder values on the other hand, were calculated using a specific formula which was dependent on our transmission ratios of both the motor and our chosen transmission. In addition, the formula also takes into account the total travel distance in degrees to calculate the point at which the mechanism must slow down. Calculations and final values can be seen in Appendix D. 4.4 Changes made to Arduino Code Rather than use the given stock Arduino ME 350 code, the optional code was chosen for our project. Although the original code works, the speed at which the code responded to the sensors did not work well with our mechanism. Thus, the optional code allowed more flexibility. In addition, the values given to the motor were given in rpm and did not have to be converted to some sort of percentage of the current. In order to meet the 9 second requirement, the code had to be further altered; specifically the lowerLimitThreshold, upperLimitTreshold, as well as the integration constant. As mentioned before, the upper/lowerLimitThreshold were determined via a formula, however, the integration constants were determined through extensive guess and check testing. In addition to the change in the ‘main’ code, P a g e | 28 smaller changes such as which pin referred to which sensor were changed to match our wiring diagram. Refer to Appendix D for full code with comments. 4.5 Sensor Mounting We wanted to mount our sensors in the logical spots, the hard stops, but our hard stops did not offer adequate surface area for mounting via double sided tape. Instead we mounted our limit switches to the input plate and to the motor mount holder. The input plate worked well because it had enough area to mount the switch and because the travel of the output link ends at a location that can easily actuate the switch. We mounted the other limit switch on the motor mount holder because it is located above the hard stop, had enough area to mount, and the path of travel of the input link was in-line with the motor mount holder. We mounted our proximity sensors with double sided tape in the first two places where we saw it was obviously needed: at the end of the backpack holder and in the middle of the input link facing outwards. These were obvious locations because the backpack holder travels the furthest away from the original position and the middle of the input link is always facing the pinch point in the middle of the four-bar linkage. None of the switches or sensors affected the volume of the mechanism. Figure 25: Linkage mechanism with limit switches in red and proximity switches in yellow 5. Design Critique and Evaluation Looking back on our design process, we can see that there were things that we did correctly and things that we could’ve done differently. P a g e | 29 Our final design had several issues arise that we did not foresee during the initial design process. One issue we encountered was finding a space to mount our motor. During the initial design process we knew that space had to be reserved for the drive system but did not know exact specifications of the motor at the time. This presented a problem when we had to implement our drive train as we had removed too much material from our baseplate to make our design more compact. Fortunately we were able to come up with a solution that worked in our limited space. This issue could’ve been avoided by being more thoughtful of potential changes that would be need made in subsequent phases of design. Despite these issues a number of things worked very well for us. For example, we obtained strong performance against the angle offset, forward offset, and horizontal offset benchmarks. Despite the fact that the final linkage design was born from several theoretical models, the performance of the mechanism varied from those representations. In several aspects it performed better than we had thought based on models and in other aspects it underperformed relative to the model. One factor that may have created this discrepancy was exclusion of friction from our ADAMs model. This required our motor to work harder than expected to produce the torque required to overcome the friction at the joints. Because of this, the actual power required of the motor was greater than we had originally in our models. In addition to frictional effects, loading caused further issues as well. The real test of our mechanism was whether the performance would be greatly affected by the inclusion of the backpack load. Operation of the linkage was markedly different when loaded with the backpack compared to no loading. Inclusion of the load increased out of plane stresses at joints causing the motor to have to work harder to overcome these additional stresses. Because of limits placed on supply voltage, the motor saturates and is unable to provide the power for operation similar to the unloaded case and so the device moves much slower. The control algorithm could be improved to make better use of the available equipment. One way the speed could be more precisely controlled is by creating several process intervals using the EncoderCount. We could assign each interval its own speed so that while the linkage is operating within a certain interval it would have a unique velocity. This will allow more precise control of the linkage. During the development of our design, there were many variables to be considered. Allowing flexibility and room for alterations was paramount throughout the design process. Constant changes took place, parts were remanufactured, and problems were reengineered along the way. Allowing for these modifications was essential in producing the best possible resulting product from the initial design phase. Looking back at the overall process which took place in implementing our final product, there is no need to alter any aspect of the procedure we used to reach our goal. Trial and error is one of the best methods for this type of product development because it allows for constant improvements to be made. In regards to the sensors applied to our mechanism, the provided sensors were adequate for the purpose they served as safety features. Proper location and sensitivity settings were taken into consideration when determining the best application of the proximity sensors. The limit switches also served their purpose well when properly located to achieve desired stoppage at beginning and end positions. Any possible interference with path of travel was addressed when placing proximity sensors and setting threshold values. With these sensors, the safety design of our mechanism would be rated a 5 out of 5. The only additional safety option that could have been added was an enclosure housing the P a g e | 30 transmission system. This would protect the transmission components from any possible debris or foreign object impedance. With our present design being a prototype, we would advise against allowing our current product to be used for everyday application. During testing, we were able to meet or exceed all benchmarks confirming that we designed a properly manufactured device that could achieve the specifications provided. However, we never performed any test to verify longevity of use and possibility of misuse or potential failure rate. Since a design in theory may not allow be produce identical results in application, we would advised for additional long-term performance testing before allowing actual application by a consumer. When considering the materials and supplies used in manufacturing our design, a few alternative components could have contributed to a more ideal final product. Allowing the use of steel over aluminum would have provided the ability to design thinner linkages and cause for a sleeker, more compact design. During the initial phases of the design process, having a better program to determine our linkage placement and transmission angle could have led to a more precise travel path. The provided Lincages program seemed limited in its ability to provide accurate or consistent results and did not allow for minor adjustments to be made. Other than these minor factors, we were able to meet all design specifications with the materials supplied. In conclusion, this project was challenging and valuable experience. Many factors influenced the design process, some we accounted for and others that surprised us. The important thing was that we were able to confront issues quickly and effectively. Throughout the design process we were given more details such as motor specifications that changed our initial design. This could be similar to a real life engineering project in which the clients’ needs change. We learned that to be successful it’s important to expect bumps in the road and to prepare for them accordingly by being flexible. P a g e | 31 Appendix A: Individual Design A.1 Dai Phuc Do Figure A 1: Phuc Do Lincages Table A 1: Phuc Do Loading Analysis Joint Minimum Force in y (lbf) Maximum Force in y (lbf) Minimum Torque (lbf ft) Maximum Torque (lbf ft) Input –Ground 0 5.3 0 0 Input –Coupler Output –Ground Output –Coupler 0 15.4 14.9 5.31 16.3 15.89 0 3.6 10.5 0 20.95 10.92 The forces on this design are quite small on the input link while the output link bears much of the load. This is due to the very acute transmission angle that the linkage endures during its motion. This causes unnecessary extra stress on the motor. Despite these flaws the linkage does quite well in terms of accessibility. P a g e | 32 Figure A 2: Phuc Do CAD A.2 Mario Mantanovic Figure A 3: Mario Mantanovic Lincages My initial design was very similar to the final design. The things changed for the final version were the shape of the base plate to accommodate mounting to the wheelchair and the shape of the coupler to allow proper mounting of the backpack as well as adding spacers, a brace for the input to baseplate connection, and hardware. All basic design as well as the geometry of motion stayed the same. Pictures and a table of pin forces can be seen below. Table A 2: Mario Mantanovic Loading Analysis Joint Minimum Force in y Maximum Force (lbf) (mag.) in y (lbf) (mag.) Minimum Torque (lbf ft) (mag.) Maximum Torque (lbf ft) (mag.) Input –Ground 0 31.7 0 27.08 Input –Coupler Output –Ground 0.8 0 31.3 17.5 0 0 12.08 14.58 P a g e | 33 Output –Coupler 0.1 17.7 0 Figure A 4: Mario Mantanovic CAD 17.17 P a g e | 34 A.3 Marcus Papadopoulos Figure A 5: Marcus Papadopoulos Lincages In my design the loads a fairly manageable but the torque values are rather high. It is natural for a 4 bar to have high torque and it extends. It is important to use very strong and stiff materials in the design to manage these loads and torques. This would prevent any sort of deflection in the parts of links. Deflections can drastically increase friction in joints because the bearing will no longer be in line. A design that does not manage the loads will also fail due to fatigue earlier. Although this design does well in the offset and transmission angle parameters, the fact that the loads and torques are so high makes this design undesirable. The high loads would be too difficult and expensive to manage. Table A 3: Marcus Papadopoulos Loading Analysis Joint Minimum Force in y (lbf) Maximum Force in y (lbf) Minimum Torque (lbf ft) Maximum Torque (lbf ft) Input –Ground Input –Coupler 13.9 13.3 15.2 14.7 13.83 3.49 16.72 3.6 2.6 2.5 6.5 6.5 8.01 8.53 9.3 8.95 Output –Ground Output –Coupler P a g e | 35 Figure A 6: Marcus Papadopoulos CAD A.4 Paarth Shah Figure A 7: Paarth Shah Lincages P a g e | 36 Figure A 8: Paarth Shah CAD Table A 4: Paarth Shah Loading Analysis Joint Minimum Force in y (lbf) Maximum Force in y (lbf) Minimum Torque (lbf ft) Maximum Torque (lbf ft) Input –Ground Input –Coupler Output –Ground 2.3 1.2 1.1 34.8 33.8 22.2 .2167 .2834 .3958 2.583 8.4 .9227 Output –Coupler 0.8 22.1 0 7.3 The forces on this linkage are about average; however, this design excels at carrying the torque load. Due to the geometry of the part, the coupler at times creates a sandwich between the input and output link which at times may offset some of the moment on the joints. In addition, the lengths of the links are small, allowing the torque to reach smaller values. Although this design manages loads fairly well, the main issues arise with the geometry of the part. The forward offset is not very high, forcing the user to reach backwards to access their backpack. In addition, the angle offset from the wheelchair arm is very high, once again, forcing the user into an awkward position to reach the backpack. In addition to this, the transmission angle dips to a very low number (~10°) as seen by the transmission angle graph. P a g e | 37 A.5 John Takacs Figure A 9: John Takacs Lincages Table A 5: John Takacs Loading Analysis Joint Minimum Force in y (lbf) Maximum Force in y (lbf) Minimum Torque (lbf ft) Maximum Torque (lbf ft) Input –Ground Input –Coupler Output –Ground 1.48 1.48 13.44 7.01 7.01 19.01 1.34 0.01 8.94 6.88 5.18 11.43 Output –Coupler 13.44 19.01 4.42 10.65 The linkage I designed seemed to manage both the force and torque loads fairly well. However, the coupler and output link travel over the same path sandwiching the backpack straps before reaching a fully closed position. Based on the values for maximum force and torque loads, deflection could become an issue if proper materials are not considered with adequate strengths and stiffness to manage these loads. Taking these factors into consideration with also prevent early failure due to fatigue. The transmission angle of this design is more than adequate, as seen above by the graph, with a minimum value greater than 30o. Overall, this particular design produces acceptable parameters capable of managing the tasks desired. Due to the path of travel, adjustments would be needed for clearance issues and to prevent pinching of foreign objects within this path. P a g e | 38 Figure A 10: John Takacs P a g e | 39 Appendix B: Motion Generator Section B.1 Detailed Design Drawings and Manufacturing Plans See attached. B.2 Assembly Sequence Step 1: Press 0.5” height bushing (McMaster-Carr part number: 6391K173) into all 0.5” diameter holes of the following parts: base plate, coupler, input plate, and all spacers Step 2: Press 1” height bushing (McMaster-Carr part number: 6391K178) into all .05” diameter holes of input link and output link Step 3: Mount base plate onto wheel chair. Fasten baseplate with 1 bolts (McMaster-Carr part number: 91259A633), 1 nut (McMaster-Carr part number: 97149A200), and 2 washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 5906K511) as pictured below. Step 4: Place motor mount holder on baseplate. Secure with 1 bolts (McMaster-Carr part number: 91259A633), 1 nut (McMaster-Carr part number: 97149A200), and 2 washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 5906K511) via through hole. Secure with additional bolt (part number: 90201A111) and washer (McMaster-Carr part number: 5906K511) via threaded blind hole as pictured below. P a g e | 40 Step 5: Mount hard stop to baseplate using 1 bolt (McMaster-Carr part number: 90201A109) and 1 washer (McMaster-Carr part number: 5906K511). Second hard stop is bolt (McMaster-Carr part number: 90201A113) bolted into threaded blind hole in baseplate. Both are pictured below. Step 6: Mount motor mount to motor mount holder using 2 bolts (McMaster-Carr part number: 90201A111), and 2 washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 5906K511), bolted into the motor mount via threaded holes, through the motor mount holder, as pictured below Step 7: Attach motor (Pololu part number: 1447) using 6 screws (McMaster-Carr part number: 92005A006 ). Attach Driving Sproket (SDP/SI part number: A 6C 7-25B48) using sprocket setscrew. Step 8: Sandwich 6 washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 5906K511) and 3 input plate spacers as pictured below. P a g e | 41 Step 9: Mount input plate on top of input plate spacers. Bolt together using 2 bolts (McMaster-Carr part number: 91251A554), 2 nuts (McMaster-Carr part number: 97149A100), 4 washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 91083A029) as pictured below Step 10: Attach input link to assembly as pictured below with Driven Sprocket (SDP/SI part number: A 6C 7-25B48), 1 input dowel (McMaster-Carr part number: 98380A546), 1 bolt (McMaster-Carr part number: 91259A635), 1 nut (McMaster-Carr part number: 97149A200), and 6 thrust washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 5906K511), as pictured in the cross section picture below Step 11: Attach output link to assembly as pictured below using spacer, 1 bolt (McMaster-Carr part number: 91259A633), 1 nut (McMaster-Carr part number: 97149A200), and 4 washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 5906K511) as pictured in the cross section picture below P a g e | 42 Step 12: Attach coupler to input and output links as pictured below using spacer, 2 bolts (McMaster-Carr part number: 91259A633), 2 nuts (McMaster-Carr part number: 97149A200), and 8 washers (McMasterCarr part number: 5906K511) as pictured in the cross section pictures below. Input Link Cross Section Output Link Cross Section Step 13: Step 13: Attach 2 backpack holder tabs to coupler using 2 bolts (McMaster-Carr part number: 91251A546), 2 nuts (McMaster-Carr part number: 97149A100), and 4 washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 91083A029) as pictured below P a g e | 43 Step 14: Attach backpack holder to backpack holder tabs using 2 bolts (McMaster-Carr part number: 91251A546), 2 nuts (McMaster-Carr part number: 97149A100), and 4 washers (McMaster-Carr part number: 91083A029) as pictured below Step 15: Connect Driven (SDP/SI part number: A 6C 7MHK2508) and Driving (SDP/SI part number: A 6C 725B48 ) Sprocket with roller chain (SDP/SI part number: A 6Q 7-25) and Chain Connecting Link (SDP/SI part number: A 6Q 7-25SCCL). Step 16: Attach Snap Action Switches (Jameco part number: 187733) to mechanism in the location marked by red circles in the picture below. Attach Infrared Proximity Sensors (Jameco part number: 35695) to mechanism in the location marked by orange boxed circled with orange circles in the picture below. P a g e | 44 B.3 Bill of Materials for Motion Generation Material In Kit or Shop? Quantity Purchase Price (each) Part # Supplier Square Aluminum Tubing (1” x 1” x 6’ long, 1/8” wall) 88875K33 McMaster-Carr Yes 1 N/A Aluminum Plate (1/2” x 12” x 12”) 9246K33 McMaster-Carr Yes 1 N/A Sleeve Bearing (3/8” dia. shaft, 1” long) 6391K178 McMaster-Carr Yes 4 N/A Sleeve Bearing (3/8” dia. shaft, 1/2” long) 6391K173 McMaster-Carr Yes 6 N/A Shoulder Screw (3/8” shoulder dia., 2 ¼” long, 5/16”-18 thread) 91259A633 McMaster-Carr Yes 3 N/A Shoulder Screw (3/8” shoulder dia., 2 ¾” long, 5/16”-18 thread) 91259A635 McMaster-Carr Yes 1 N/A Nylon Lock Nut (3/8”-16) 97135A230 McMaster-Carr Yes 4 N/A Thrust Washer (3/8” dia. shaft, 1/16” thick) 5906K511 McMaster-Carr Yes 28 N/A P a g e | 45 Socket Head Cap Screw (1/4”20 x ½” long) 90201A109 McMaster-Carr Yes 1 N/A Socket Head Cap Screw (1/4”20 x ¾” long) 90201A111 McMaster-Carr Yes 4 N/A Socket Head Cap Screw (1/4”20 x 1” long) 90201A113 McMaster-Carr Yes 1 N/A Socket Head Cap Screw (1/4”20 x 1 ½” long) 91251A546 McMaster-Carr Yes 7 N/A Socket Head Cap Screw (1/4”20 x 2” long) 91251A546 McMaster-Carr Yes 4 N/A Socket Head Cap Screw (1/4”20 x 3” long) 91251A554 McMaster-Carr Yes 2 N/A Black Oxide Nut (1/4”-20) 97149A100 McMaster-Carr Yes 10 N/A General Purpose Washer (1/4” dia. shaft, 1/16” thick) 91083A029 McMaster-Carr Yes 20 N/A TOTAL: $0 Appendix C: Energy Conversion C.1 Detailed Design Drawings and Manufacturing Plans See attached. C.2 Assembly Sequence Refer to Appendix B.2 for complete assembly manual of Motion Generation, Energy Conversion and Safety. C.3 Bill of Materials for Energy Conversion Material In Kit or Shop? Quantity Purchase Price (each) Part # Supplier Dowel Pin (1/4” dia., 1” long) 98380A546 McMaster-Carr Yes 1 N/A #25 Hardened Steel Chain (2 ft) A 6Q 7-25 SDP/SI No 2 7.58 Chain Connecting Link A 6Q 725SCCL SDP/SI Driven Sprocket with 48 teeth and pitch diameter of 3.823” and a bore of 0.5” A 6C 725B48 SDP/SI No 1 9.79 Driving Sprocket: with 8 teeth and pitch diameter of 0.653” and a bore of 6mm. A 6C 7MHK2508 SDP/SI No 1 25.42 P a g e | 46 Aluminum Angle, 2.5” x 2” X ¼” thick, 6” long 8982K33 McMaster Yes 2 N/A Polulu 131:1 Metal Gear motor 1447 Pololu Yes 1 N/A 92005A006 McMaster Yes 6 N/A M3 x 8mm Motor Screws TOTAL: $50.37 Appendix D: Safety and Motor Controls D.1 Wiring Diagram See attached. D.2 Controller Code With comments See attached. D.3 Calculation for encoder count Calculations: Lower Count Threshold: Calculations: Upper Count Threshold: D.4 Drawings and Manufacturing Plans for Safety/Motor Controls No addition materials need to be manufactured for Safety and Motor Controls. All of the sensors were mounted onto existing structures. D.5 Bill of Materials for Safety/Motor Controls Material Part # Supplier In Kit or Shop? Quantity Purchase Price (each) Arduino Uno microcontroller board DEV-09950 Sparkfun Yes 1 N/A P a g e | 47 H-bridge (L298 Motor Driver – preassembled) K CMD Solarbotics Yes 1 N/A 351 Pololu Yes 1 N/A Custom ME 350 Professors Yes 1 N/A Infrared Proximity Sensor, short Range GP2D120XJ00F Sparkfun Yes 1 N/A Snap Action Switch (a.k.a. limit switch) 187733 Jameco Yes 1 N/A Rocker switch, single-pole, Double-throw 35-695 Jameco Yes 1 N/A 22 Gauge Stranded Electronic Wire 7587K931 McMaster Yes 10 ft N/A 22 Gauge Solid Core Electronic Wire 8073K631 McMaster Yes 10 ft N/A 400-point Breadboard Mounting Board for Arduino, H-bridge and breadboard TOTAL: $0