Week 08 — Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2025

Overview

Extensive focus on ME CAD for pinball and linear actuator launching mechanism prototypes. Reuse exisiting motors, motor drivers, and microcontroller for PoC while waiting for optimized components.

Pinball Mechanism

Individual Updates

Austin

• Started to adapt stepper and serveo motor controller code to specific apllications
  • Looked into migrating code to different microcontroller and SBC platforms

Grace

• Designed proof-of-concept (POC) prototype 'pinball' launcher mechanism, with decoupled 'cradle' and 'flipper' features
• Conducted preliminary motor sizing calculations to validate reusing existing motors for POC 'pinball' launcher
• Sourced various hardware and components for POC 'pinball' launcher

Kevin

• Designed proof of concept prototype for linear actuator launcher mechanism
• Sourced and ordered components and started building prototype
• Conducted preliminary calculations

Vincent

• Compared several motor options for different launching mechanisms
  • Provide initial motor driver recommendations for servos and BLDCs
  • Found initial motors and drivers for each topology
• Discussed design considerations of carriage for linear and pinball launching mechanisms