Author: jcs190008

This month was focused on 3D printing and testing the prototype that was designed last month. It also consisted of implementing changes as issues arose with the print and assembly of the design. There have been several errors in the parts that were uncovered, that being the distance of the screw holes to the edge of the print, stability posts not matching up to the corresponding holes, and other minor print and design issues. The circuitry continues to function as intended from last month and no changes are planned for its design or size currently.

The next step is to continue iterating the design and make improvements to the comfortability of use and function of the prototype, especially with regard to its assembly. Future improvements would reduce the overall size and increase the comfort of using the device on the guitar.

This month was focused on implementing the designs and plans we had conceptualized in the previous month. Including making a rough draft of the new CAD model guitar adapter and reducing the size of the circuitry to later make it into a printed circuit board (PCB). The reasons for these improvements haven’t changed from the originally intended purpose which is:

1. Increase the stability and security of the guitar adaptor when clasping it to the guitar neck
2. Increase the servo motor strength by purchasing a new motor and updating the circuitry to power the new servo
3. Decrease the size of the electronics to fit into the new device housing shown in the most recent iteration of the CAD model
4. Increase the durability of the size adapter mechanism with a single screw through the base of the device

Current CAD Model:

Current Circuit Design:

This month has been spent putting into action the goals that we set to achieve at the start of the semester. We are on track to finish these goals and have a functioning prototype with the improvements implemented by the end of the Fall 2022 semester.

During this month we have finished the planning and sketching phases of the prototype improvements our team has decided to implement. Our team visited the My Possibilities facility in Plano and got a better understanding of how the given criteria apply to the HIPsters and their needs.

Planned prototype design improvements:

Reasons for improvements:

1. Unstable when clasping the neck so add a neck brace for stability
2. The servo motor is too weak for pressing strings so a new servo with more torque was ordered
3. Electronics need a larger housing than the current prototype offers so the brace will act as a compartment for those systems
4. The size adapter mechanism is unstable and hard to use so a new single screw system will be implemented

Overall, this month has been a time of laying the foundations for our actions over the rest of the fall 2022 semester. We are hopeful that the prototype will be functional by the end of this semester with all of the additional improvements fully implemented.