The EASELECTRIC University of Connecticut - Biomedical Engineering Senior Design Team 4 Team Members: Frank Molnar Adam Ross Jonathan Sapienza Jacqueline Tabor

Outline Introduction Other Products Patented Products Safety Features Design Tracking Movement Fabrication Electrical System Final Budget Conclusion

Introduction Passionworks Program: Expanding world of disabled artists Mission Statement: Passion Works will be a premier art studio that supports collaborations between artists with and without developmental disabilities. Growing demand for adjustable easels Disabilities involving limited dexterity, limited mobility, visual acuity trouble, cerebral palsy, moderate cognitive impairment. Increasing demand for a remotely adjustable easel with many ranges of motion

Introduction – Our Client This easel was designed for our client Harry at Passionworks.

Other Products Commercially Available “The Dreamer” Allows for vertical, horizontal and tilt motions. Accessible only to artists who must paint with their mouths. Not applicable to artists with other disabilities.

Patented Easels Patents 5,494,251 – “Artist’s Easel” Allows for vertical motion Has a wheeled Base 5,725,192 – “Adjustable Artist’s Easel” Allows for rotational adjustment, but no motion in other planes 5,590,864 – “Easel for Handicapped Artists” Provides only a tilting function

Safety Features Safety Features: Automatic mechanism to stop movement of easel beyond its maximal excursion Master switch to turn device on/off Circuit Breakers Slow movements so there is sufficient time to control device due to delayed responsive skills of the artist Minimal amount of exposed cords or wires

Design Material Aluminum Stock provided by Independent Welding Inc. Advantages:  Lightweight  Sturdy  Weldable  Easy to fabricate  Square tubing will conceal wiring and moving actuators throughout the easel

Design Easel Components: Base Clamping arms Major circuit parts Carriage Responsible for all motion Actuators Tracking System

Design – Side Views of Easel

Tracking Actuators provide movement in planes along slides Require strong tracks resistant to vibration or unwanted movement when painting

Actuators Firgelli Automations 6” Stroke Actuators 750 N Load Capacity Travel at a slow speed of 1” per second Built in Limit Switches Low Cost ~ $100 12VDC input Aluminum construction and compact design fit the overall device very well

Movement Joystick- Features Controls 6 Movements Detachable Illuminating Rocker Switch Durable and easy to use

Movement Linear Actuators Vertical Motion Tilt Gear Motor & Screw Drive Horizontal Motion Manual Adjustments Front/Back Motion Initial Easel Face Position

Movement

Fabrication Procedure Material Cleaned Parts cut to length Notching, Torching, Fine Tuning for Assembly Jig set up, parts clamped for welding Pre-welding treatments applied (for better penetration and stronger welds) WELDING Cleaning of Welds

Fabrication Post Fabrication Slag and spatter removed from aluminum Edges dulled and filed down Sharp corners rounded Parts painted and greased

Electrical System Limit switches to constrain movement Master on/off switch located on electrical enclosure Illuminated rocker switch to turn the joystick on/off 2 Amp circuit breakers to prevent damage to motor and actuators

Final Budget Item CostQuantityS&HTotal Description 6" Linear Actuators$ $24.09$324.09Firgelli Automations (ZYJ(s) ") 80/20 Tracking.32 c/in.240$50.48$ Switching power supply $43.141$2.04$45.18Powergate (RS ) Magnetic Circuit Breakers $5.333$9.50$ /20 Slides$37.456$28.93$ /20 Clamps$2.493$2.50$9.97 Relay Sockets$5.592$3.95$ PS DIN Rail$4.951$3.95$8.90B&B electronics (ERS35) Rocker Switch$1.491$3.95$ CE Miscellanous$126 Hardware store trips Total:$815.11

Conclusion Easelectric meets the needs of our client and is less expensive than currently available products. Mechanical and electrical design is safe and reliable Materials are strong and lightweight The easel is collapsible for storage

Acknowledgements INDEPENDENT WELDING INC. PQ Controls Dr. John Enderle Chris Liebler Dr. Robert Northrop Professor Neil Alderman Brooke Hallowell, Ohio University