Project 0-Laserprinter 4000 Team Form

Project documentation focuses on how the team organized itself to tackle the unknown. This is a creative process. The details learned should be captured in tutorials. Project documentation should focus on how the team organized itself to step out into the unknown. Failure is common. The single most effective way to increase engineering respect is to document failures in a creative way that stimulates, inspires and helps others continue the project. Projects are never done. There are always loose ends. There are always decisions that might have been made more clearly. There are always other alternatives that might have been considered. None of this stuff appears in a tutorial. It does appear in the team documentation.

Problem Statement

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math needs to be displayed. A laser printer can be taken apart, mounted on plywood and then mounted on a wall. The printer's parts could be functional, but exposed so everyone can see how it works. The printer's parts could turn on when someone walks by.

Team Members

The team that worked on this project includes Trevorne Nisbett, Chris Snyder, Zach Krell, Claude Moutome.

Summary

Our main objective was to make all the gears and motors inside a printer visible for people to see. We did this by disassembling the printer and removing many insignificant features. We also attempted to add an LED and motion sensor. The LED was going to replace the laser inside the printer because the laser can cause harm to a person's eyes. The motion sensor was also wanted because it would detect someone walking by. This would result in the movement of all the gears inside the printer. Due to time constraints, we were unable to add the LED and the motion sensor successfully.

Poster

Pinter before disassembling

Story

First, the entire group found diagrams on the assembly of the specified laser printer we were using. We all then began disassembling the printer by removing all the white, plastic housing. Along the way, Chris, Trevorne, and Zach all numerously tested the printer to ensure that it still functioned at maximum capacity. Zach and Trevorne completely disassembled the printer until it was no longer functioning because all the motors and gears were taken out. Even through this setback, Trevorne, Chris, and Zach began reassembling the printer and troubleshooting. Meanwhile, Claude and Trevorne was on a mission to replace the laser with an LED. Eventually, the printer was operating again and Chris and Zach began removing plastic and metal pieces that covered the gears. This enabled us to see inside the printer and have a understanding of how it operated. Finally, Trevorne and Chris started mounting the expanded printer, along with a switch, on the plywood.

Material List

1. Plywood, (36inches by 28inches)

2. HP LaserJet 4000

3. Various hardware-(4)2in screws

4. 2 ft of small gauge wire

4. Tools- Screwdrivers, Dremel, Hand Cutters, Scissors, Hand Drill, Soldering Iron, Wire Cutters

All our materials were provided to us by Howard Community College, thus resulting in no expense to our group.

Software List

The only program required was inside the printer.

Time

Total Hours- 27 hours were spent on this project.

Tutorials

Printer's moving parts on display

Next Steps

The next step could be anything. We can add our LED, enable the motion sensor, give it wheels, etc. There are many things that can improve this project.