Project description

The Mechanical Flower is an outstanding open source project in the world. The original creation was made by a foreigner. It uses copper wire as a skeleton, welds LEDs to the skeleton, and adds servo control to become a mechanical flower that can open and close automatically and change colors. It is quite interesting. Cyberpunk style, but it is difficult to produce, difficult to mass produce, and has low reliability. This project is a second creation based on an open source project. It uses modules built with ecological chains such as LC PCB and SMT to create a mechanical flower product based on a copper wire skeleton, which has certain ornamental value.

Project related functions

The project has a built-in microwave radar module or touch module. When someone approaches or touches the leaves, the mechanical flower can automatically perform the "blooming" action. At the same time, the white LED of the petals gradually becomes brighter during the flowering process, and the color of the flower core is any one. Color, the petals show a better color. After fully blooming and unfolding, wait for a moment and then automatically "close". The process of closing the mechanical flower is the process of the white LED of the petals gradually dimming. During the above-mentioned opening and closing process, the green LED leaves under the mechanical flower will also show a gradual brightening and darkening process. It is rechargeable. During the charging process, the leaves of the mechanical flower will show a dynamic effect of breathing and flickering. The effect of mechanical flowers is very beautiful and can be used as lobby decorations or birthday gifts, and has certain commercial value.

Project properties

Have not participated in any competition.

Design principles

Design principle: PWM control of programmable LED, PWM control of steering gear, code design of STM8 microcontroller.

Software description

In terms of control of this project, there is a microcontroller version and a pure hardware version, which reflects my software and hardware design capabilities. I am a hardware engineer and my software foundation is relatively weak. In this project, the software mainly uses basic WHILE, if, and other basic functions. statement, using the interruption system blessing, to complete the display of project effects. The code can currently achieve basic functions, but there are still some bugs, such as

(1) If the power is cut off in the non-closed state, the MCU will not remember the original position of the servo, and will reset quickly after powering on, causing the mechanical flower to accelerate instantly, affecting the durability and ornamental value.

(2) A lot of peripheral power control is reserved on the hardware. In fact, the code has not yet been optimized for power consumption, and has not yet implemented instructions such as sleep.

(3) It may be a problem with coding ability, or it may be that the MCU has a low main frequency and controls the gradient of the servo and LED at the same time. It seems that the servo is relatively jittery, and the LED gradient effect is poor.

I hope programming experts can optimize and improve the above. My ability is limited, so I apologize!

Physical display

Blooming effect of pink mechanical flowers with copper wire skeleton.

Blooming effect of white mechanical flowers with copper wire skeleton.

The PCB skeleton mechanical flower modeled by Solidworks, the rendering, is not available in real form yet. Since JLC does not support the production of PCBs with a width below 5mm, the development of this PCB version of the mechanical flower has not been started yet.

3D printed exoskeleton version of the mechanical flower, rendering, under development.

Design considerations

The limit of the DC motor or steering gear or the PTC wrapped resistor in series is connected to the motor power supply to avoid program deviation during debugging and damage to the work.

Other

Work Demonstration 1: [I love you as much as I love life, and I will give you a flower that will never wither. The mountains and the earth are boundless, so I dare to be with you! ] https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1w24y1Q78Q/?

Work Demonstration 2: [Mechanical Flower] https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ae4y1j7bJ/?share_source=copy_web&vd_source=a42f08a52ed2db8dbf89e52ecd989bf3

Work modeling demonstration: [Mechanical flower pcb version Solidworks modeling, practice for 2 and a half days, prepare for free prostitution JLC] https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1eR4y1h7ua/?share_source=copy_web

Work modeling demonstration: [Application will be announced in the next issue! It's coming! -Bilibili] https://b23.tv/gGxfAry

Spark Event Video: [Those with weak hands should not enter! Copper wire mechanical flowers, the basic skills of manual masters? -Bilibili] https://b23.tv/LmfGjxb

Links to other materials

(I bought them when I made them myself, for reference only)

(1) Flowerpot: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UFvdfVX?tk=l8pfdNbk5zN CZ3457 'Ceramic Brother Kiln Open Piece Ceramic Hydroponic Small Flower Pot Non-hole Flower Bowl Green Plant Container Small Fresh Desktop Flower Container Clearance'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

Buy the size with an outer diameter of 10.5cm, a diameter of 6.7cm, and a height of 6.3mm.

(2) Copper wire: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UuCizlA?tk=1Xs5dNbU6EM CZ3457 'Half a pound of free shipping H65 brass wire semi-hard soft velvet flower 0.15 0.2 0.30.35-8mm pure brass wire'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

Petal: Buy H65 brass wire 1.0 half kilogram ≈ 37 meters (semi-hard), and use it with the sleeve. The outer diameter of the copper sleeve is 1.6mm, the inner diameter is 1.6-0.2*2=1.2mm, the sleeve and the copper wire If the diameter difference is too large, the opening and closing process of the mechanical flower will not be smooth, and if the diameter difference is too small, it will not be able to penetrate or move.

(3) Petal LED + Green Leaf LED: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UuVicl6?tk=66OFdNbSMtE CZ3457 'SMD LED 0402 0603 0805 1206 red, yellow, blue, green, white light, high-brightness bead light-emitting diode'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

For the LEDs on the petals, buy 0805 LEDs that are easy to solder, at least 30 of them. White light makes the flowers look pure. Other colors are also available, depending on personal preference.

For the LEDs on the green leaves, I also buy 0805, usually emerald green, at least 15 LEDs.

(4) Steering gear:

Buy 0-180°, MG90S (all metal), 1 piece, [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UuVcARt?tk=2gS1dNbcyS9 CZ3457 'SG90 MG90S 9g Servo 450 Helicopter Fixed Wing Model Remote Control Aircraft 9 Kemada aircraft model'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

(5) Battery: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UGjM35u?tk=2YMUdNbNy8b CZ0001 '902040 rechargeable 602040 large capacity 3.7V lithium battery Bluetooth speaker scanner 1000mAh mAh core'

Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

Buy 1000mAh, the dimensions are as follows:

(6) Programmable LED: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UuCn94G?tk=bCJudNbj6S8 CZ0001 'WS2812B full color highlight RBG 5050 SMD programmable LED 5V light strip brushless traversing machine Little Bee'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

Buy WS2812B, at least 7 pieces.

(7) Pin header: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UGjJI44?tk=hizjdNbKhRk CZ3457 'Single row of pins, double row of pins, copper spacing 2.54MM1*2/3/4/5/6/7 /8/10/12/20/30P gold-plated pins'.

Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

If you buy a longer one, you can cut it with different PIN numbers. The spacing is 2.54mm.

(8) Microwave module (choose one from touch module): [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UuVeq8K?tk=e3IRdNb3kGB CZ0001 'Microwave radar sensor module 5.8GHZ DC radar microwave sensor switch sensor switch'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

(9) Touch module (choose one from microwave module): [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UGjp05q?tk=KUrNdNbo4x3 CZ0001 'TTP223 224 226 touch sensor touch button sensing module capacitive point type Proximity switch'.

Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

Buy the one as shown below. The wiring is VDD, VOUT, GND. Just connect the touch pad lead to a copper wire leaf. Note that this copper leaf network needs to be independent and floating.

(10) Nuts: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UIWLbCR?tk=5ghrdkClK8e CZ0001 '304 stainless steel external hexagonal nut nut screw nut cap Rose M3M4M5M6M8M10M12M30'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

Buy M3.

(11) Flat head screws: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UFxZsGq?tk=XK7QdNXgSXF CZ3457 '3mm 4mm 304 stainless steel cross flat head screws countersunk head screws flat machine bolts M3 M4 *4-*100'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

Just buy M3*5mm, at least 4 pieces.

(12) Plastic nylon column - buy M3*35+6: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UFFGnLA?tk=PnchdNbd8UM CZ3457 "Single-pass hexagonal nylon column isolation column plastic support column PC board spacer column Insulation column stud M2M2.5M3M4'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

(13) Copper tube: [Taobao] https://m.tb.cn/h.UFFvwbm?tk=69bfdNbewLw CZ0001 'H62 brass tube straight tube capillary copper tube hard environmentally friendly hollow round tube 2/3/4/5 /6/7/8/9/10mm'.
Click the link to open directly or search on Taobao to open directly.

Trunk: buy 4*0.3*half meter (outer diameter 4mm, inner diameter 4-0.2*2=3.6mm)

Inside the trunk: buy 2.2*0.2*half meter (outer diameter 2.2mm, inner diameter 2.2-0.2*2=1.8mm), internal wiring space=3.6-1.8mm=1.8mm.

The internal transmission rod of the trunk: buy a 1.6*0.2*half meter (outer diameter 1.6mm, inner diameter 1.6-0.2*2=1.2mm), which also serves as a sleeve for the petal movable joints and needs to be cut into lengths by yourself.