Background
Design Objective
This group project was completed for an electromechanical design course at BU. The broad project requirements were to design and fabricate a 2-D motion system with 2.5 degrees-of-freedom (DOF). The first two DOF corresponded to X-Y motion in the 2-D plane and the 0.5 DOF to the selected action of the end-effector.
Design Overview
Our team chose to build a Core-XY motion system instead of the conventional cartesian "bed slinger" system, as we felt it would be more of a challenge. Core-XY also affords greater speed, accuracy, and build volume relative to footprint, when compared to cartesian systems.
Demonstration Video
Plasma Burner Operating Principles
A flyback transformer was used to produce the plasma, which arced between four pieces of brass rod — two anodes and two cathodes. The transformer was controlled via a relay, which was energized by an L298N dual H-bridge. The second H-bridge was used to cycle the compressor on/off in tandem with the transformer. The compressor's purpose was to direct the plasma arc down to bed-level.
An Arduino was used as a microcontroller, such that plasma, directed by air from the compressor, could burn a programmed 2-D pattern onto the wood canvas.
