Sharpie Lifter and Syringe Actuator
Conception
This was a quick project I worked on to obtain practice with lead screws and stepper motors for precise motor control. The original intention of this project was as a progression to the 2D and 3D projects. I wanted to play with alternative designs for a simple system to raise and lower an object: The sharpie for the 2D plotter, and a syringe plunger for design practice and potential down-the line applications for a 2D cookie decoration machine.
Prototyping and Results
The overall project was a success, but still left room for continued improvement. The sharpie connector worked well, but the physical mechanism lacked long term durability due to the gear component on the sharpie being made as a hot glue mold. The syringe similarly worked, however, the physical print component of it, and design could be further improved. The print itself came out slightly warped due to a bed temperature error and adhesion issue. I eventually determined that I was going to focus on the sharpie lifter as my 2D testing application, and across multiple iterations, was able to significantly reduce overall plastic use.
