Shiny Doom Forum

rklee · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 1:47 am Post subject: M&M sorter mechatronics project

Goal is to build a 'cool' m&m sorter/counter. Size requirements budget requiremets... etc etc etc

Today's task: mechanical prototype. No motors or anything no sensors and with cheap material.

It will have a color sensor, 2 motors (disk and tube) and 1 PIC controller. Also will be modified to do parallel sorting.

Took 2 hrs to design and build, enjoy

http://www.shinydoom.com/rklee/mm/mmsortersmaller.wmv
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Trool · Good Karma Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Posts: 1486

someone posted this on engadget a few days ago...

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000607029725/
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The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, isn't 'Eureka!' but rather 'hmm....that's funny.'

--Isaac Asimov

rklee · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:14 pm Post subject:

Ya seen that one. It's a very nice design actually single motor but requires some fairly precise manufacturing. Also the main problem with that one is that it requires m&M's to be loaded in a tube. Believe it or not... that's very difficult to do. To go from a bin of MM to a tube of MM in right position. Our's will be a bitmore robust, faster, and also work in parallel (some of the components will be duplicated so the servos can do 4 or more m&M at one time.
_________________
"My Heart Is In the Work" - Andrew Carnegie

Trool · Good Karma Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Posts: 1486

sweeet that sounds like fun...post more pics as u make progress.
_________________
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, isn't 'Eureka!' but rather 'hmm....that's funny.'

--Isaac Asimov

Jastermereel · Guest

Couldn't the alternate be easily modified to no require the tube? To view and examine each one upon it's departure from the dispensing unit?

Both ideas are interesting but I can't help but try to figure out if your design could be done with a single motor. Just seems like there must be a way to simplify the process somehow...

rklee · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject:

It could be modified yes.
A balanced walker can be made with a single motor actuation, why make Asimo's complex legs and walking algorithms?
Single motor actuation for this is not hard. The second one IS single motor actuated (if I remember correctly).
_________________
"My Heart Is In the Work" - Andrew Carnegie