What was the task?
For the final project, we were tasked with choosing a project that we wanted to make, and make it. For my project, I chose a cribbage board. I chose this because we don't have a cribbage board in our house, only at our cabin up north. So I thought it would be the perfect time to make one.
Pre-Sketches
Here are two sketches of the cribbage board, both of these were made when I was trying to figure out the lengths & sizes of the holes on the board. The math section of this project was easily the most difficult part, everything had to be just perfect for it to work. It took a really long time, but after a lot of trail and error I got the measurements. You can see the final measurements in the picture taken from inventor.
Timeline
Below is a picture of my Gantt Chart, I used it to help me stay on task and know what I had to do each day in order to successfully complete my project on time. It was super helpful because when I would fall behind I could remodel it and know what I would have to do in order to keep up.
Inventor
Throughout this project, the modeling software I used was inventor. I used it to model my board, map the holes in the board and model my cribbage peg. Below are two pictures, the one to the left is of the cribbage board mapped with the holes. As I said before, mapping the holes was the most difficult part of the whole project. But after I go the math correct, Inventor made it easy to map out. The second picture is of a cribbage peg, I needed to be very precise with my measurements in order to make the peg be able to fit into the game board. But with Inventor I was able to get the correct measurement.
3D Printer
For one of the machines, I used the 3D Printer. I used it to print off my cribbage pegs, modeling and printing these pegs was probably the easiest part of the project. I just needed to make sure that I set up the MakerBot software with the correct measurements. The two pictures that you see are the cribbage peg modeled in Inventor, and the cribbage pegs being printed on the 3D printer. (right to left)
I used the CNC Router to cut out my board as well as drilling the holes. Mr. Willauer helped me map the route of the router on AutoCAD and also with finishing cutting out my board after the drill bit broke. After the drill bit broke we used the table saw to finish cutting out my board. I'm very happy with how my board turned out, I wasn't 100% sure if I did my measurements correctly but after it was done being cut out every thing fit perfectly.
Final Product
Below are pictures of my final project, the one on the left side is a photo of my cribbage board after it was done being cut out. The picture to the right is of my dad and I play a game on the cribbage board. In total, I'm very happy with how my project turned out.
What I learned
I learned a lot in Big IDEA this semester, but the main thing I learned is the importance of not procrastinating. Throughout this semester I could have had a lot more days of productivity in class, but I always thought I'd have enough time to do it later. I learned this lesson the hard way, but I'm very glad I learned it. It's something I will take with me throughout my life.
Other than procrastination, I learned a lot about what the machines in the Innovation Center can be used for. While I was taking regular IDEA we were restricted to what we can use the machines for. But in Big IDEA I learned how many different applications they can be used for, not just by using them in my own project, but also seeing what other people in the class were making with them. It was very interesting to see peoples ideas made into reality using these machines.
I had a lot of fun this semester working on this project, and I'm very happy with how it turned out. It took a long time and it was pretty difficult to finish (especially mapping out the holes), but it's really cool to able to pay a game of cribbage and know that I made the game board. I believe that this game board will see a lot of use in the future.
Other than procrastination, I learned a lot about what the machines in the Innovation Center can be used for. While I was taking regular IDEA we were restricted to what we can use the machines for. But in Big IDEA I learned how many different applications they can be used for, not just by using them in my own project, but also seeing what other people in the class were making with them. It was very interesting to see peoples ideas made into reality using these machines.
I had a lot of fun this semester working on this project, and I'm very happy with how it turned out. It took a long time and it was pretty difficult to finish (especially mapping out the holes), but it's really cool to able to pay a game of cribbage and know that I made the game board. I believe that this game board will see a lot of use in the future.