M2C2 - Milwaukee Makerspace Can Crusher

M2C2 - Milwaukee Makerspace Can Crusher

Summary Status

The M2C2 has been mounted to the wall, and is awaiting its custom control board. A pair of green industrial momentary pushbuttons currently activates the device, only as long as they are held down. When energized, the system holds the crushing part in OPEN state, forcefully.

Description

Use the building-wide pneumatic system for fun & entertainment, while saving space by crushing cans!

Features

(2) 1.5“ pneumatic cylinders, running at 100PSI = ~235 pounds of can-crushing awesomeness! (120PSI yields ~282 pounds)
4-port 24VAC pneumatic manifold – allows complete control over all pneumatic functions!
Arduino-powered! (You knew this already though, right?)
LCD screen shows how many cans have been crushed! (No, it will not tweet every time a can is crushed.)

Bill of Materials

Part Desc	Vendor	Qty	Unit Cost	Total Cost
1/4” NPT to 1/4“ QD connector	Parker	4	$1.50	$6
1/4” NPT to 5/8“ QD connector	Parker	2	$2.50	$5
1/4” polyethelyne tubing	Parker	100	$.21	$21
4-valve manifold	Tom Gr	1	$0	$0
1.5“ pneumatic bimbas	Hack Rack!	2	$0	$0
8020 extruded aluminum	Matt	1	$0	$0
8020 sliders	Matt	2	$0	$0
LCD Screen	Chris	1	$10	$10
Solid-State Relays	Electronics Lab	4	$0	$0
Custom PCB	OshPark	1	$30	$30
Various other infrastructure pneumatic adapters	Ace Hardware	1	$20	$20

External Links

Saw a can crusher at Fort Wayne Maker Faire, and decided “Hey, we need that!”

Project Tasks

Task	Status	Owner
Weld custom mounting brackets	Completed	Chris
Mount M2C2 to wall	Completed	Chris
Cut & mount backer board to wall to contain spray	Completed	Chris
Mount workspace clearing nozzle	Pending	Chris/Matt
Design & outsource PCB	Completed	Chris
Test & program PCB	Pending	Chris
Mount activation buttons to outside of M2C2	Completed	Chris/Matt
Design acrylic sign	Pending	Shane T.
Edge-light acrylic sign	Pending	Chris

Progress Log

10/15/13 - CFH - Mounted up individual components for control system onto wooden backer board.
10/15/13 - CFH - Prototyped circuit design with Arudino, pushbutton, and single valve activation.
11/15/13 - CFH - Welded custom mounting brackets
11/15/13 - CFH - Mount M2C2 to wall using custom mounting brackets
11/15/13 - CFH - Ran pneumatic line to M2C2 location
12/??/13 - CFH - Changed layout of pneumatics by moving main valve to the woodshop where the supply is located. This way, the whole line stays discharged until the system needs to be used.
12/??/13 - MW - Drilled holes in main 8020 slide to allow soda to drip out.
1/??/14 - CFH - Began training people on how to use the system in its current state.
01/25/14 - BMH - Added this sign

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