Automation process requires a lot of electronics.

Automation process needs electronics for stepper motor control, user interface, power distribution and security end switches. Also controlling the target hardware prosesses. On first version made as final project for Fab Academyu 2017 electronics can be seen on Fab Academy 2017 final project page. For this project, most of the electronics will be re-designed.

Stepper motor controllers: On previous version, stepper motor controllers used Polulu type stepper motor drivers with master board designed for this purpose. They were cheap version and there were a lot of problems with them. On this project target is to design stepper motor drivers using Fab inventory components. This will support fab network as well as work for project at hand. Also plan is to make motor controllers modular so that in future needed amount of controllers can be added to the system.

Master control board and power distribution will be designed as single unit instead of separate modules on early version.

User interface will be designed so that the process will be easily controlled via mechanical control unit as well as through compupter interface. In everyday use simple mechanic control unit will suffice. In develompent, optimisation and different end unit integration computer controlled interface is a must.

End swithes and closed loop will be developed for this version. On the first version only step count was used to position the moving units. This is not enought for good use. Therefore end switches and closed loop position monitoring will be used to control the machine.

High power integration. Through hole plating machine is done using only highpower (220V) electronics. These has to be connected for the automation. This will need some specialized skills and sertifications and it will be discussed more closely here.