Making the model

I am using a 1:10 model to show the workings of the bed. Most of the model was designed in 2D in Corel Draw, with a tape measure and a real bed for reference. Using a CAD environment allowed me to quickly check for clearances for hinged parts quickly and easily without haveing to resort to using math.

A scrap of 3mm MDF, some tape and some glue (and a quick trip to the laser cutter) was all it took to assemble the bed base.

The servo is clamped in place using a modified clamp design from the MeArm robot arm. The LED is an interference for and the bed ‘pressure’ switch is held in place with tape.

Quick prototyping with laser cutter

Servo with Push-Arm

Switch held in place with gaff tape

Now to make it work ...

Code for each part of the process is being gathered from various sources, including the ID6 lecture notes, the workbook that came with the Arduino, and from online tutorials. Each bit of code can then be modify to get a behaviour that I am happy with. So far so good.

The problem I’m having is putting the bits of code together. Getting things to run in the right order or at the same time is presenting for a steep but valuable learning curve.

Here is a video of the alarm sounding after the bed has done the lift cycle, rather than during it. I'll have to figure out how to fix that.