Update!
Hey folks, hope all is well out there! I’m working through a couple of relatively minor issues that have popped up during the internal component assembly. Some of them are blocking the ability to do brew demos from the enclosure.
Cone Mech Mount: The extrusion that the cone mech weight tray is mounted to needs to be moved over about 10mm. In its current position the far edge of the mech is resting on that side’s lower extrusion. This offloads all the weight from the tray, removing the ability to actually use the weight sensors. The bracket for the tray’s extrusion is the standard corner bracket which is a bit too wide to allow correct positioning as it’s butting up against the opposite corner’s bracket.
To resolve this, this corner will require a custom bracket that handles both of the beams in that section.
This is a simple fix, and something I have had to do in one or two other spots. Expected resolution is 1 day.
Spout: The spout’s limit switch needs to be moved to the opposite side from it’s current position. Easy fix, but the spout arm will need a small revision to add some clearance on its underside so it can pass over the pulley on that side.
This will be another 24 hour fix.
PCB Ports: This issue is not blocking the demos but will require a more time consuming fix, but not much. Over the last few weeks I figured out that the best way to mount the electronics is directly to the left side panel. The power supply and relay board will be mounted to the rear panel. All the component’s will be set within an enclosure that is 30-40 mm in height, and that is what will be mounted to the panels.
The nice thing about this layout is that it opens up a ton of space within the enclosure since there is no longer two additional electronics enclosures taking up a bunch of space. This simplifies assembly, layout, common maintenance, adding and customizing components, etc.
This possibility was not considered when designing the PCBs. With the current positioning of input and output ports, there's no way to arrange everything without some ports blocking others.
Between this and the previous issues, it all felt like a sliding block puzzle from hell…
Luckily this is also an easy fix, but it will require some additional time to get the board’s fabricated.
Next Steps:
Today I will finish the designs for the custom mount and the revised spout. They will be added to the assembly tomorrow.
On Tuesday I will start updating the PCBs. They will have to rerouted which is a little annoying, but these boards are not complex. So probably 2-3 days before they can be sent to fab.
Boards will be sent to fab no later than Friday and should get to me within a week.
Since the PCB’s are not blocking demos, I will be able to record some once the first two issues are resolved and in time for the next update. I will also have the cad design’s for the panel mounts completed to share with everyone. I imagine that it’s hard to picture exactly what I’m talking about without some visual aids.
Ok, that is all for now. I will see everyone again next weekend.
Cheers!