Wrap up 5/8

Troubleshooting, Troubleshooting, and more troubleshooting, all this week we've ran a series of diagnostic tests. We called Techno FMS support and they led us in the right direction, we isolated several circuits to try and identify the problem. We're making progress but we're not there yet.

Week of 5/4

This week we are changing all our attention on getting our CNC Mill completely functionally and operational. This involves changing, upgrading and formatting old computers, our goal is to make it as the mill was brand new and off the lot.

This Weeks Goals:

• Change old computers
• Upgrade ram in new computers
• Install Windows 7
• Install Drivers/mill software
  
  
  
  

5/1 Wrap up for the week

After working on making the part, we had a few successful models. The models worked better then we thought they would holding more, and working correctly when put to the test. These models also helped us find the correct settings for the 3d printer temperature for good stick and crisp lines throughout.

4/27 Week Begins

This week we worked on making a new product using the 3D printer and solid works. After learning how to use solid works I thought it was a good time to put it to the test. This is what we have so far...

4/24 Wrap Up

This week we finished working on our senior project and the board. We finalized the water bus and got ready to take it all to symposium.

Monday 4/20

This week we will redo poorly made/old connections from previous years as well as organize or tool boxes are add a locking mechanism.

            We will also work on...

• Creating/remaking our accessory circuit wiring
• Experimenting/researching on new solar cells

Arduino Code

/*
** Example Arduino sketch for SainSmart I2C LCD2004 adapter for HD44780 LCD screens
 ** Readily found on eBay or http://www.sainsmart.com/ 
 ** The LCD2004 module appears to be identical to one marketed by YwRobot
 **
 ** Address pins 0,1 & 2 are all permenantly tied high so the address is fixed at 0x27
 **
 ** Written for and tested with Arduino 1.0
 ** This example uses F Malpartida's NewLiquidCrystal library. Obtain from:
 ** https://bitbucket.org/fmalpartida/new-liquidcrystal 
 **
 ** Edward Comer
 ** LICENSE: GNU General Public License, version 3 (GPL-3.0)
 **
 ** NOTE: TEsted on Arduino NANO whose I2C pins are A4==SDA, A5==SCL
 */
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LCD.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

#define I2C_ADDR    0x3F  // Define I2C Address where the PCF8574A is
#define BACKLIGHT_PIN     3
#define En_pin  2
#define Rw_pin  1
#define Rs_pin  0
#define D4_pin  4
#define D5_pin  5
#define D6_pin  6
#define D7_pin  7

int n = 1;
int threshold0=200;
int threshold1=400;
int ledPin =  13; 
int ledState= HIGH;    
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(I2C_ADDR,En_pin,Rw_pin,Rs_pin,D4_pin,D5_pin,D6_pin,D7_pin);

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
   
  lcd.begin (20,4);
 pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  // Switch on the backlight
  lcd.setBacklightPin(BACKLIGHT_PIN,POSITIVE);
  lcd.setBacklight(10 ); lcd.home ();                   // go home

  lcd.write(Serial.read());  
  
   
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
   lcd.println("SPHS Engineering/Hort");
    //lcd.scrollDisplayLeft();
  lcd.setCursor ( 0, 1 );        // go to the 2nd line
    lcd.print("Test BY: MATT/TYLER");
  lcd.setCursor ( 0, 2 );        // go to the third line
  lcd.print("Moisture Sensor");
  lcd.setCursor ( 0, 3 );        // go to the fourth line
  lcd.print("Soil Cond.:");
}
void loop() {

   lcd.setCursor (11,3); 
  int range = map(analogRead(0), threshold0, threshold1, 0, 2);
switch (range) {
  case 0:    // your hand is on the sensor
   lcd.print("PERM.WILT");   digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

    break;
  case 1:    // your hand is close to the sensor
    lcd.print("FIELD CAP.");    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);

    break;
  case 2:    // your hand is a few inches from the sensor
   lcd.print("SATURATED ");    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);

    break;
    //digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

  } //  if (ledState == LOW)
     //analogRead 
    
   // else
    //  ledState = LOW;

    // set the LED with the ledState of the variable:
    
  delay(50);        // delay in between reads for stability
}  
// constants won't change. Used here to 
// set pin numbers:
    // the number of the LED pin

// Variables will change:
         // ledState used to set the LED

// the follow variables is a long because the time, measured in miliseconds,
// will quickly become a bigger number than can be stored in an int.

  // set the digital pin as output:
  
//void loop()




  

/* if (analogRead(0)>threshold0)
{lcd.print("dry");
}
  else if(threshold0<analogRead(0)<threshold1);
  {lcd.print("moist");}
  else else if(analogRead(0)>threshold1);
  {lcd.print("soaked");}
}

*/
 

 
 // Backlight on/off every 3 seconds
/* lcd.setCursor (14,3);        // go col 14 of line 3
 
  lcd.print(analogRead(0)>200);
lcd.print(analogRead(0)<400);}*/
  
 
  
 


    // when characters arrive over the serial port...
  //if (Serial.available()) 
    // wait a bit for the entire message to arrive
   // delay(100);
    // clear the screen
    //lcd.clear();
    // read all the available characters
    //while (Serial.available() > 0) 
      
 // Serial.print();
// Serial.print(analogRead(0));  
  

Monday 2/6

This week we will continue to work on our programming ability and work on a soil monitor for horticulture next door.

We will develop the soil monitor in stages first we will have the LCD screen read out the raw numerical valve from the Arduino Serial monitor
Once we accomplish that we will create value ranges and have the LCD screen display the soil condition: Dry, Moist, or Soaked
Then Once that is accomplished we will equip the Arduino with an LED and have it light the LED while it's dry.

Friday 1/30

This week we have rearranged the back area of the Tech lab to make it look more appealing for the open house which was on the 26th, we've also received some new woodworking machinery from a private donation.

1/26 Monday post

Today is magnet open house and it's crunch time to get the room cleaned!
All work has halted as we are preparing to recruit the incoming freshmen and must make this place look it's best.

Once we finish the open house we will be refocusing on digital readouts for the solar car using an Arduino Microcontroller.

Checking out the water bus

Today I looked at the water bus to see how we can fix it up

Goals for Week 12/8

Wrap up for Week 12/5

Goals on week 12/1

Wrap up 11/28

This was a short week so we are ready for thanksgiving break. The welder sheath is not becoming unclogged so we might need to order a new sheath to continue welding. Hopefully we can finish fixing the go kart soon to have it up and running.

Recap on this weeks goals:

• The pedal is not welded due to problems with the welder feed.
• The shop is looking nice and clean to go into the 5 day break.
• Go- Kart is still not running, but is getting closer to running.

Goals on 11/24

This is a  short week so we will have two short posts. The parade went very well!! The car drove without any problems, and very fast. Overall people were impressed with our head-turning car so hopefully we can get a few donations out of it. Unfortunately when turning into the parking lot I turned too sharp and the solar car hit my car and left a dent... hopefully we can fix it.

Goals for this week:

• Weld pedal for go kart
• Clean up the shop 
• Get go kart to running conditions

Wrap up 11/21

This week our main goal of getting the car to run under its own power was very successful. The brakes worked pretty well, at least to supplement the regenerative braking in getting to a complete stop. We also were able to fit the car on to the trailer fairly easily, and strap it down. All we needed to do was back it in onto a ramp on the back and strap it to the trailer. On our test drive around the magnet loop the car worked flawlessly.

Goals Met:

• Car ran... Pretty fast especially since the batteries haven't been charged 
• Car stopped.. could be faster need to upgrade the brake system since it is evident that it is not sealed
• Car fit nicely on the trailer

Goals of 11/17

This week we are getting ready for the parade, we need to make sure the car is fully functional, well at least the electric part of the car.

Goals:

• Car needs to go
• Car needs to brake
• How are we going to attach it to the trailer?

Wrap up on 11/14

This week we looked at getting a trailer to take the car, the one we found will work for the with some minimal adjustments for side height clearance. The brakes are getting worked on, we got one side done now need to work on the other side. The car is almost ready for the parade. We worked on some welding this week .
Goals completed:

• Trailer coming in 
• Brakes are installed
• Welding is getting better

Goals of week 11/10

This week our goals are to have SK3 ready for the holiday parade. We need to procure a trailer to participate in the parade. Our brakes have been taken apart from the beginning of the year for cleaning and maintenance so this week we have to put them back together.
Our Goals:

• Get trailer for car
• Re install brakes on car
• Bleed brakes for use