Content
For this project we created a tool that would be able to route a wire through several black cables then secure the wire by twisting the cables. This was done using a combination of the EV3 brick, a medium motor, a large motor, two touch sensors, and an assortment of other lego pieces. The tool is built around the brick using it as its main support.
If you were to look at the tool from the top with the screen on the lower half of the brick, you would see a large motor attached to the left side. This motor has an axle that goes through the middle of the rotating part of the motor. The end of this axle has a gear attached which is then used to twist the black cables. The right side of the brick is equipped with two touch sensors, the orange one controlling the release of wire from the spool while the red one activates the motor used for twisting. Finally, on the bottom side of the brick there is a medium motor that is attached to two cylindrical lego pieces to create a spool for holding excess wire.
One of the important design choices we made was putting a long straight lego piece right between the spool and the motor; the reason we did this was to help direct the wire into and out of the spool when the motor rotates. Without this piece the wire would end up getting tangled with the spool a majority of the time, making it unreliable. Another choice we had to make was the location of the motors and touch sensors in relation to the brick. The way the pieces are arranged makes it possible to not only use the brick one-handed but it can also be used with either the left or right hand; the only difference is the way in which the tool is held. Additionally, the parts are spaced out enough so that the tool can be operated even while wearing large astronaut gloves. Also the reason we chose a gear instead of just any other piece is that the gear had larger openings making it easier to navigate the black cables through it in order to twist them.
The tool was programmed in LabVIEW. The way it works is based on two programs, one is used during the actual trial while the other is simply used to clean up afterwards. The first program is called "Wire Spinning", it has two loops that are running forever. One of which waits for the orange button to be pressed which then activates the medium motor and continues to rotate until the button is released. The second loop works in the same way except it is the red button and it rotates the large motor. The second program is called "Reel In" and its the same as the first loop in the "Wire Spinning" except that it rotates the medium motor in the opposite direction to retract the spent wire.
If you were to look at the tool from the top with the screen on the lower half of the brick, you would see a large motor attached to the left side. This motor has an axle that goes through the middle of the rotating part of the motor. The end of this axle has a gear attached which is then used to twist the black cables. The right side of the brick is equipped with two touch sensors, the orange one controlling the release of wire from the spool while the red one activates the motor used for twisting. Finally, on the bottom side of the brick there is a medium motor that is attached to two cylindrical lego pieces to create a spool for holding excess wire.
One of the important design choices we made was putting a long straight lego piece right between the spool and the motor; the reason we did this was to help direct the wire into and out of the spool when the motor rotates. Without this piece the wire would end up getting tangled with the spool a majority of the time, making it unreliable. Another choice we had to make was the location of the motors and touch sensors in relation to the brick. The way the pieces are arranged makes it possible to not only use the brick one-handed but it can also be used with either the left or right hand; the only difference is the way in which the tool is held. Additionally, the parts are spaced out enough so that the tool can be operated even while wearing large astronaut gloves. Also the reason we chose a gear instead of just any other piece is that the gear had larger openings making it easier to navigate the black cables through it in order to twist them.
The tool was programmed in LabVIEW. The way it works is based on two programs, one is used during the actual trial while the other is simply used to clean up afterwards. The first program is called "Wire Spinning", it has two loops that are running forever. One of which waits for the orange button to be pressed which then activates the medium motor and continues to rotate until the button is released. The second loop works in the same way except it is the red button and it rotates the large motor. The second program is called "Reel In" and its the same as the first loop in the "Wire Spinning" except that it rotates the medium motor in the opposite direction to retract the spent wire.
Gallery
Video
The video contains an explanation of the tool in the beginning, followed by a demonstration of the left hand use, then right hand use, then sideways, and finally upside down.
Attachments
| Attachment | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
 Reel in.vi | 19.42 KB | |
| Wire Spinning.vi | 28.90 KB |