Printing Video

Successful Printing (Week 7)

Completed Build

This week we finished the complete build. Here it is with new CNC machines and the pumping system loaded in the syringe. 

The black cylinder to the right is the air tank that would add pressure to the syringe to squeeze out the chocolate.










2D Print Test
This week, we finished putting together the chocolate delivery system and the CNC machine. After assembling, we were left with a chocolate 3D printer. To test out the moving function of the axes, the printer was test programmed to draw a simple square along the x-axis on a sheet of paper using a sharpie marker. The picture picture below shows the successful programmed square drawing.
Here is sample of the coding used to create this square:
G0 Z1
T0 M6
G17
M3
G0 X2.4672588832487308 Y2.4906091370558374
G1 Z-1 F800
G1 X7.548223350253807 Y2.489847715736041 F1500
G1 X7.548223350253807 Y7.571065989847716
G1 X2.467005076142132 Y7.571065989847716
G1 X2.467005076142132 Y2.489847715736041
G0 Z1
M5
M30

3D Chocolate Print Test
To test the chocolate delivery of the printer, we found the right amount of pressure to extrude the chocolate and we programmed the printer to make a hollow pyramid. The picture below shows the successful but flawed extrusion. The objective of printing out an object using chocolate was finally completed. Even though the chocolate pyramid was printed, the product drooped down because the layers did not dry fast enough and the chocolate was still soft. To improve the printing, the temperature of the printing environment will be adjusted to result in smoother surfaces. Also, the formula and temperature of the chocolate will be experimented with to find the best consistency for extrusion.

Chocolate Portion (Week 6)

Chocolate Delivery System

This week, nearly all of the parts has been delivered and we are able to create the chocolate deliver system. To the right is the apparatus containing the tank, a pressuring mechanism, and the delivery with the syringe. The syringe would be moved using the CNC machines to print out chocolate. Not pictured is a bike pump which would be used to add pressure to the tank, allowing chocolate to flow out.

Another important part of the project would be the actual chocolate that we are printing out. The challenging part of this is to get chocolate to be liquid inside the tank and solidifying rather quickly after being secreted. Since the tank is pressurized, the melting point of the chocolate is slightly lower than under normal conditions. This allows the chocolate to be in a liquid state in not-as-hot conditions. On the same coin, this might mean the chocolate can solidify easier after being under normal pressure. However, this pressurized effect might be negligible and a less hot chocolate solution might simply solidify in the tube leading up to the syringe.

http://static.jmslinks.com/
WebService/
ProdAdminImage.ashx?
id=95Chocolate Recipe

We are playing around with a recipe containing chocolate and coconut oil. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, meaning it is solid in room temperature. Adding this to the chocolate would make it more readily to solidify. We draw this inspiration from Smucker's Magic Shell Chocolate. This is a chocolate syrup designed as an ice cream topping.

This chocolate, as can be read from the image, "freezes" in seconds, meaning it would harden really quickly on ice cream. However, we are going for a process that would allow the chocolate to harden even though the platform isn't ice cold. We are still testing out what is the most optimal ratio of coconut oil to chocolate.

Fix ups

At the same time, we are fixing the printing portion of the printer. The CNC machines would be replaced shortly, and we hope to fix the wiring that would not cause the motors to heat up quickly. Also, we are trying to create a better code for printing out chocolate things.

A Speed Bump (Week 5)

This week, we finished wiring the the breadboard and it should correctly deliver the information to the CNC machines.

In this picture, it shows the wiring (in blue) from the Arduino to the breadboard. For the board, the yellow and red wires would run to the CNC machines.

Bad news

When wiring the board to the mounted CNC machines, there was a strange, screechy sound. In the video, the sound can be heard whenever we try to attach the wires. This was the case for two CNC machines, which are responsible for the x and z axis. These two specific CNC machines were from CD drives we salvaged from computers that were headed to the trash, so we believe that had to do with the faulty hardware. We should've tested the machines before we mounted as we have to back track and remove these faulty CNC machines on top of getting new CD drives for new CNC machines.

Better News

We only used two salvaged CD drives to make the CNC machines. For the y-axis, we used a CD drives we got from a store. Although these drives were refurbished, they were tested unlike the salvaged drives, so our y-axis CNC machine works.

We plugged in the y-axis machine and created a quick code that would move the CNC machine back and forth using the arrow keys. As the video to the right shows, the platform is alive and listens to our commands. 

However, we didn't get any breaks at all. The movement of the platform is very rigid so we need a way to lubricate the slider or see if there is any drag on the platform. On top of this, the motor of the CNC machine gets hot super fast. This means that we probably have a shorted wire and have to hunt it down to correct it.

Upcoming

The parts we ordered are coming in and it is really cool to deal with so many new parts. So far, we received the head plug, t-connect, pump, and syringes (we had to explain the syringes weren't paraphernalia for our new-found heroin addiction). We are excited to start the chocolate-delivery system part of the project. At the same time, we are going to have to play with different chocolate recipes to find one with the perfect properties that would allow it to be liquid inside the tank and harden really quick. 

On the side note, fixing the hardware quickly is paramount to getting our project back up to speed. Writing up a fully functional code would also be a project of itself. We have just a handful of weeks left and we are excited to see the final product.

Getting Physical (Week 4)

This week, we finished setting in the three CNC machines for the different axes. The video to the right shows the movement of each of the machines. This is basically all of the physical components we are going to have for the final printer. We are just missing the mechanism that would feed the chocolate onto the printing platform. This would include nuzzle, pressure gauge, pump, and a holding tank for the chocolate.





The wiring is more or less finished - we just need to solder it completely in. Here, the Arduino (blue) is wired to a breadboard (white), which is then wired directly to the CNC machines. The breadboard was used for prototyping before we finalize the build and solder the wires in. The red piece on the breadboard is the step motor driver.

The flow of the contraption is that the Arduino would send it a gcode. This gcode would contain the coordinates of where the CNC machines need to go. Our first attempt of getting the machine to work was a failure. However, this is a learning experience and we will learn what went wrong and fix the issue.

We hope to fix the code, and have a working one by next week. At the same time, other members not working on the code would devise a way to set up the chocolate delivery portion of the project.




NEW: Expenses page now added

Waiting on Parts (Week Three)

This week we had completed setting in the CNC machine for the second axis as well as putting in the printing platform on the bottom machine. Soldering the wires to the machines were also completed this week, but we are still slightly behind where want to be on the timeline.

We were also planning to finish setting in the z-axis this week, but we didn't have enough standoff screws to mount the CNC machine. Right now, we are just waiting on Amazon to ship the standoff screws for us to use. The item we bought is sold here.

In the meantime, our programmers, Zabir and Devin, are getting familiarized with the coding language, C and C++, needed to program the Arduino that is going to move the CNC machines.

For applying layers of chocolate, we plan on using a bike pump and syringe. The pump pressure would be computerized to apply a specific amount of pressure at certain times. We are still going over the options we have for a heating tank. One of our main technique for making the chocolate the correct consistency is the ingredients of it. We are going to research a recipe that would allow the chocolate mixture to be runny inside the tank, but solidify pretty quickly after applying it on the printing platform.

Disassembling for assembling (Week 2)

 Disassembling for assembling

This week, we disassembled CD drives to get the necessary parts to assemble the 3D printer next week. Devin used this video as reference to take apart the drives. The goal of this was to take advantage of the components of the CD drives and turn it into a CNC machine. This computerized numerical control machine plays a crucial role to make the 3D printer functional. CNC is a method to allow computers to automate machines. In this case, a computer would automate the sliding of the CD drive platform back a forth in one axis.

In our case, we disassembled three CD drives to get three CNC machines. By utilizing three machines, we are able access the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. This is the basis in 3D printing.



Here, we are using the casing of the drives to make the sides of the printer. This would allow us to set in the CNC machines to their correct positions to create the necessary axis movement.
To the right, we finished setting in the machine responsible for controlling the y-axis. The wall perpendicular to the platform would control both the x-axis and z-axis.

There will be a platform on top of the y-axis machine. This would be the printing deck for our completed printer.

Now the machines are ready to be soldered with wires that would be connected to a computer. We are planning on using an Arduino that would control the movement of the machines in regards to the CADs we are printing out.

Our goal for next week:

We want the crucial physical parts of the printer done so we can go into coding the program that would move the CNC machines in the right place. One of the biggest foreseeable challenge is that we are going to learn a whole new language for the Arduino, so we want as much as a head start in that task as possible. 

Another interesting thing we want to do is to etch or customize the casings to make it more unique to us as a group and to Drexel. 

Introduction (Week 1)

Our project

Our Freshmen Design project is a 3D chocolate printer. Our motivation was to create an apparatus that was not only challenging but practical at the same time. The original idea was to simply create a 3D printer out of electronic waste. However, adding the chocolate part is to enhance the basic idea of a 3D printer into a more interesting and unique one. We are hoping to achieve a working model of a basic 3D printer halfway into the project and then incorporating the chocolate in during the remainder of the time.

Our Team

We are all first year students at Drexel University. As various engineering majors, we came together to conduct this project for our Freshman Engineering Design Class.

Devin Kolarac

Electrical Engineering at Drexel University

I have many interests from server and networking systems to robotic and power systems. I'm looking into Wireless Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or Robotics Engineering. I love tinkering with electronics and building things. DIY projects are a great way I kill my free time!

dnk33@drexel.edu

Hoang Pham

Computer Engineering at Drexel University

I enjoy computers, especially building them. I am planning to double major in computer and electrical engineering. I like to keep up with modern technology and also really love to eat. One of my goals in life is to buy a Tesla model s.

hdp38@drexel.edu

Jay Leung

Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University

The most important parts of life is food, games, and cool science. Working in a lab was one of the best experience I've had. It showed me how much I knew, which wasn't much at all. I hope to learn a bit of everything, because I simply cant learn everything of everything.

jkl88@drexel.edu

Suzanna Ho

Chemical Engineering at Drexel University

Some of my hobbies include exploring new places and trying different foods. Through this engineer design project, I hope to gain skills in teamwork collaboration, time management, and problem solving.

snh69@drexel.edu

Zabir "Red" Nur

Biomedical Engineer at Drexel University.

I love programming, chess, and studying biology and philosophy. I'm a philomath, a foodie and a gamer.

zn32@drexel.edu

The Advisers

Technical Adviser

 Mohammad Nozari

Chemical Engineer at Drexel University

Short article about him.

LinkedIn

mn468@drexel.edu

Co-Adviser

Brandon Terranova

Electrical Engineering at Drexel University

LinkedIn

bbt25@drexel.edu