Making The Most Useless Machine using Arduino

Useless Machine

As the title appears that "The USELESS MACHINE " is useless but not boring.You can play with it and I bet you can not WIN. You can play with your friends and ask them to open your box.
Yes come to steps how do we start . So Make it with in just simple Steps.And yes you will have some pre-requirements before starting.

The main aim to make this machine is to have a machine to turn itself off

This machine was build by Arduino UNO Board with the help of Servo.
Arduino listens to the switch.if its "ON", the Arduino send signal to servo, it pulls the mechanical arm to pull the switch "OFF" again. And this will continue whenever you press the button to "ON" 

Things you will Need

• A wooden box.
• Arduino UNO
• 10K OHM Register
• Small SPDT Switch
• Servo Motor
• Wires
• 9V Battery
• Popsicle Sticks
• Glue for tempering Wooden box
• Some Wooden rod (0.5" X 0.5")
• old coax cable
• 2 pcs of small hinges

Tools you Need

• Dremel tool
• saw
• screw driver
• pliers
• wire stripper
• soldering iron, lead solder
• voltmeter
• breadboard
• electrical tape

Component Wiring

Now the Programming part is begins.Download Arduino IDE to your computer and out that code.

========== CODE STARTS========

// Sweep
// by BARRAGAN
// This example code is in the public domain.

#include <Servo.h>

const int  buttonPin = 2;
int buttonState = 0;

Servo myservo;  // create servo object to control a servo
                             // a maximum of eight servo objects can be created
int pos;                // variable to store the servo position
long timeDelay;

void setup()
{
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);
  myservo.attach(9);  // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object
}

void loop()
{
  buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);  // Read the button position
  if (buttonState == HIGH) {
     for(pos = myservo.read(); pos >=20; pos -= 1) { // goes from 90 degrees to 20 degrees in 1 step                                   
       myservo.write(pos);                        // tell servo to go to position in variable 'ONpos'
       timeDelay = random(15, 30);
       delay(15);                                        // randomize wait time for the servo to reach the position
     }
  }
  else {
     timeDelay = random(1, 4);
     for(pos = myservo.read(); pos <=90; pos += timeDelay) {// goes from 20 degrees to 90 degrees in 1 step                            
       myservo.write(pos);                         // tell servo to go to position in variable 'OFFpos'                

       delay(15);                                         // randomize wait time for the servo to reach the position
     }
  }
}

Now Prepare The Box

We want to make that box to open from top.To do this we need to cut the lid in half.then reposition the hinges to the left and right side the box.

          

• Remove latch from front of lid and box.
• Remove the hinges form the back.
• Draw a line across the lid to indicate the cut will be made. The side of the lid is angled so when the top opens, the lid does not jam with the other.
• Cut the lid and make smooth edges.
• Make notches to the sides of the box where the hinges will be re-located.Attach the lids on each end. Attach the hinges to the lid and the box. Note that you need an extra pair of hinges as the box only comes with two (you need 4 hinges total).

Create servo housing and finger

• Cut pieces of wood to create servo housing.

   

Create housing for servo that will drive the "automated hand" that flips the switch off.

Measure the servo dimensions and build a housing around it using the 0.5" x 0.5" wood rod.Cut the wood and secure the pieces.I reinforced it with a nail then I glued it together.

Fit the servo in the housing and position it on the lid where the SPDT switch will be attached.
Drill a hole on the lid and secure the switch. Position the servo housing underneath and align it with the servo levers.

Create the "finger" using popsicle sticks. Before creating the finger, i mocked it out by drawing the finger on a piece of paper, cutting it out, then superimposing them on the servo lever. Simulate the rotation of the server lever with the finger attached to see how the finger reaches around to flip the switch off. Once you get the right size, angle, and thickness, overlay the paper mock with the popsicle stick. You can add as many layers of popsicle sticks as you can to create the right thickness so when the finger rotates, it is able to strike the switch. Create holes on the servo-end of the finger where you can attach the finger to the servo lever.

Attach the finger to the servo lever by using a copper wire taken from the middle of a coax cable. They can be pretty strong so you will need to use a pair of pliers to cut and bend it. Secure the copper wires by soldering the other side to "lock" the finger to the lever. Be careful not to melt the servo lever.

Secure the servo housing underneath the lid with the switch by applying wood glue. Rotate the finger to ensure that it goes around the lid and hits the switch lever nicely while the glue is still wet.. Once you've found the right position, use a clamp to secure the servo housing to the lid as the glue dries.

Wiring and Attaching Power Supply

1. Solder the copper wire that hold the mechanical hand and the servo lever together.
2. Curl the other switch pole because e don't need it.
3. Solder 10K OHM register to directly to the wires and wrap this with electrical tape.
4. Attach 9V battery to Arduino.Remember to remove the battery when not in use. 
5. Move Arduino at side to protect it with moving mechanical hand. 

Now its time to Test out Machine

You can just buy this product at various market. You just have to assemble all it's components together to work.

Thanks to Instructables