Schedule

• Worked hours: 41 hours
• Expected hours: 42.25 hours
• Late tasks: The team is late in buying all the necessary components for the project, but all necessary components will be acquired to complete the mechanical project next week
• Estimate of the project: The team is delayed 1.25h

Full Mechanical Project Design

Project Overview

The primary objective of this first deliverable is to present a comprehensive mechanical design of the coffee dispensing system. This design encompasses the structure and mechanisms required to reliably store, dispense, and measure coffee beans. Key components in this design include:

1. Coffee Containers: The machine will feature four containers, each designated for different coffee types. The containers will have a secure lock to protect beans from contamination and theft and provide easy access for refills. The containers will be connected to a motorized dispensing system that will control the flow of beans based on the customer’s order.
2. Archimedes Screw Dispensing Mechanism: Coffee beans will be dispensed from the containers using an Archimedes screw powered by a stepper motor. This mechanism will allow control of the dispensing rate, enabling the machine to measure the amount of coffee required by each order.
3. Funnel and pipes: Positioned below each coffee container, the pipes and the funnel will direct the beans from the Archimedes screw into a dedicated container without spillage. The funnels will ensure the beans are guided efficiently to the weighing container.
4. Customer Container and Load Cell: The receiving container for the coffee beans will sit on a load cell to measure the exact weight of beans dispensed. This feature will allow the machine to accurately match each order’s specifications and avoid waste.
5. Structural Components and Enclosures: The entire setup will be housed within a secure and visually appealing enclosure that protects internal components while allowing customer interaction through voice and facial recognition interfaces.

Design Specifications

Coffee Containers

In the complete project there are 4 equal coffee containers. Each container is responsible for storing at least 1000g of one type of coffee bean. In the image below, it’s possible to see all the parts assembled.

In this first part, the focus will be on detailing the box itself. The box is divided in two sections, electronic compartment and coffee compartment. In the front compartment, there is a square hole in the front part which function is dispense the coffee grains. In addition, the is a circular hole in the back, where the Archimedes Screw will be attached. In he back compartment is where step motor will be fixed with it’s driver. Finally, in the back wall, the is a circular hole where it’s possible to pass circuit wires.

• Materials
  • All the box faces will be done using laser cut MD with 6mm depth