EASELECTRIC

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EASELECTRIC

• Team 4
• Adam Frank Jackie Jon

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Introduction

• Planning a Design
• General Requirements An electrically adjustable
  easel that can be safely used in a community of
  cognitively impaired individuals.
• Should be light-weight and movable in 3 planes of
  motion and controllable tilt operations (i.e.
  front to back, side to side, and up and down)

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Overview of Client, Harry Grim

• Moderate Cognitive Impairment (MR)
• Limited Arm Movement and Dexterity
• Received Painting Easely project developed by
  UConn students in 2002
• Flaws include
• Too large and heavy
• Safety concerns involving speed of movement
• Control settings

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Specifications

• Safety Features
• Automatic mechanism to stop movement of easel
  beyond its maximal excursion
• Master switch to turn device on/off
• Powered by a wall switch
• Slow movements so there is sufficient time to
  control device due to delayed responsive skills
  of the artist
• No exposed cords or wires

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Control Features

• Detachable joysticks to control easel movement
  from a wheelchair
• Master switch located on the back of the device
• Simplistic controls that can be easily maneuvered
  by individuals with MR

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Size Restrictions

• Requests for Device Dimensions
• Tabletop arrangement with room for Harrys feet
• From floor to lap, allow approximately 27
• Lightweight
• Transportable design making the device easy to
  store
• Canvas Size should be adjustable
• Min 8 by 8 Max 30 high by 38 wide

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Initial Design

• Materials
• Require a lightweight, sturdy, and cheap material
  for frame
• Wood Too flimsy, not ideal for electric movement
• PVC Again, too flimsy (used in former project)
• Stainless Steel Heavy, expensive
• ALUMINUM

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Initial Design

• Aluminum Advantages
• Lightweight
• Cheap
• Weldable
• Sturdy
• Available in different shapes, lengths, and forms
  of stock

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Initial Design

• Aluminum Characteristics
• Alloys- 1000,2000,3000,4000,5000,6000,7000 series
  aluminum
• Fabrication- bending, drilling, punching,
  tacking, welding, tapping
• Finishes- mill, anodized, mechanical, painted
• Types- extruded, drawn, miniature, welded

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Initial Design

• Aluminum Shapes
• Channel Square Tubing Angle

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Initial Mechanical Design

• Movement driven by up to 4 linear actuators.
• Heavy Duty Drawer-like tracking for stability
  and guidance

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Initial Mechanical Design

• Sturdy 2-inch square tubing base
• Clamped under table for added stability
• Manually adjustable
• Servo-motors

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Initial Mechanical Design

• 2 part design for movement
• Base Responsible for front and back movement
• Carriage Moves forward and back in base and
  allows for vertical, horizontal, and tilt motions.

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Initial Mechanical Design

• Other ideas for movement include
• Cam system or pulleys to amplify movement of
  actuators
• Enclosed screw drive or rack and pinion system
  instead of actuators for linear movement
• Pneumatic or hydraulic actuators instead of
  electronic

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Initial Mechanical Design

• Different drawing surface attachments
• Will separate into 3 flat parts for storage
• Base
• Carriage
• Drawing Surface

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Initial Design Electrical System

• Client requested the use of joysticks to control
  motion of easel
• Design ideas Hard Wired vs. Digitally
  Controlled
• Use of Relays to accommodate low voltage/current
  joystick and higher voltage/current actuator

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Initial Design Electrical System

• Circuit requires safety mechanisms including
• Master On/Off Switch
• Fuse or breaker
• Limit Switch to constrain range of motion
• Possibility of attachments such as canvas light
• Method of organizing and concealing wiring etc.

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Budget is Most Limiting Factor

• 750.00
• 24 Actuator estimates Around 100 a piece
• Sliding Tracks Around 25 a piece 3 required
• Aluminum/ Steel Stock most will be provided by
  Independent Welding Inc.
• Joysticks 12 a piece (2)
• Relays 40

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Summary

• Goal is to create an easel that meets the needs
  of our client and is less expensive than current
  products.
• Mechanically we are looking for a safe and simple
  design.
• Materials need to be strong and lightweight.
• Electronics need to be simple yet able to
  properly control the device.

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References

• http//www.argylein.com/cgi-bin/search_dies.pl?wor
  dsEQUALANGLE
• Mouser Electronics Catalog 2005