The Machine Paradox

Info

FACULTY: Santiago Fuentemilla Garriga, Oscar Gonzalez, Josep Marti, Petra Garajová

CALENDAR: 16-10 → 28-10

TRACK Instrumentation

Team

Albert Vila Bonfill, Anna Fedele, Dhrishya Ramadass, Mihnea Nicolae Patrascu, Nicolò Baldi, Qianyin Du

Introduction

The ‘Machine Paradox’ seminar was designed to immerse us in a hacking process. We began with discarded electronic devices, aiming to deconstruct and reinvent them for whimsical, unconventional purposes. This paradox lies in the idea that dismantling devices with our own hands empowers us to understand their inner workings beyond the “black box”. Furthermore, ideate impractical uses for these devices enhances our creativity, teaching us how to reimagine existing solutions.

Forensic Report: 3D Printer

Reporting Agency	MDEF
Case identifier	Forensics of the Obsolescence
Identity of the submitter	Albert Vila Bonfill, Anna Fedele, Dhrishya Ramadass, Mihnea Nicolae Patrascu, Nicolo Baldi, Qianyin Du
Date of receipt	17/10/2023
Date of report	28/10/2023

Examination

• Serial number: 01 150929 1189
• Brand: FUNDACIOCIM
• Model: BCN3D+
• Year: 2015
• Weight: 11,6 kg
• Colour: BLACK/BLUE
• Made in: SPAIN

Forensic Questions

WHAT DOES IT DO?

A 3D printer creates three-dimensional objects by layering material based on a digital design. Using a computer-aided design (CAD) model as a blueprint, the printer adds material layer by layer to form a solid object.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Depending on the technology used, the printer deposits material with each layer fusing to the one below. The material is solidified using various methods like heating, UV curing, or laser sintering, resulting in a three-dimensional object that matches the digital design.

HOW IS IT BUILT?

The 3D printer is constructed using a combination of mechanical, electronic, and software components. Mechanically, it features a frame that houses the moving parts, including the print head or extruder, and a build platform. These components are driven by motors, guided by linear rails or rods, ensuring precise movements on the X, Y, and Z axes. Electronically, a main control board processes digital instructions from the slicing software, directing the motors and regulating the temperature of the print head or curing source.

WHY IT FAILED, OR IT WASN’T USED ANYMORE?

The 3D printer still functions, but it’s an older, unstable model with low accuracy and print quality.

Steps Taken

1. Cleaned the dust off the printer and brought it to the MDEF room.
2. Disassembled using our toolbox.
3. Separated into three main parts as follows:
   • PLATE: Horizontal surface that also gets heated and can be moved in all directions and where the plastic is printed on;
   • STRUCTURE: The part that supports the entire printing machine;
   • EXTRUDER: Contains the motors to print 3D filament;
4. Laid out all parts individually and documented.

Testing

After the disassembly process, we meticulously examined each individual component. Utilizing a precision lab power supply and a high-resolution multimeter, we conducted comprehensive tests to determine the optimal voltage required for each component’s functionality.

Results

HOW MANY MOTORS DID YOU FIND INSIDE?

Five motors used to move the extruder in the three axis to permit printing in 3D space.

DOES IT CONTAIN A COMPUTER OR MICROCONTROLLER?

Yes, an Arduino board and a RAMPS.

DID YOU FIND ANY SENSORS?

Yes, temperature sensors.

Conclusions

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

• How a 3D printer is assembled.
• How a 3D printer works.
• How to power up each component individually.
• Fundamental electronics.
• How a step motor works.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU?

• The number of components, screws and pieces the printer had.
• The fact that we can make the extruder work with just few components.
• How easy and repareable it is.
• How much the 3D technology has improved since 2015.

References

• https://www.bcn3d.com/ca/arxius-open-source/
• https://reprapbcn.wordpress.com/tag/3dprinter/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ61LIdlyww

LifeX

While the initial week was dedicated to disassembling and testing individual components, week 2 presented us with a unique challenge: to innovate and craft a new machine using parts extracted from the printer. An intriguing twist to this assignment was the directive to design it to be as non-functional as possible. This encouraged us to let our creativity run wild and embrace a playful approach. So embraced an audacious and captivating concept: the LifeX, a “life expectancy predictor”. With a simple push of a button, a pen draws a line on a paper below, supposedly predicting the age at which the user will pass away. It’s a tongue-in-cheek nod to the dubious claims of some fortune tellers.

In truth, an Arduino board is programmed to halt at a random number, influenced by the moment the user activates it. The motor maneuvers the pen across what we playfully dub your ‘life bookmark’. This ticket, more than just a whimsical prediction, serves as a keepsake from this pseudo-paranormal encounter. Hold onto it and cherish the memory of this unique experience!

Process

Code for LifeX

    //Servomotor library
    #include <Servo.h>

    // Define stepper motor connections and steps per revolution:
    #define dirPin 2
    #define stepPin 3
    #define stepsPerRevolution 200

    //LCD settings
    #include <Wire.h> 
    #include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
    LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);

    //PEN ServoMotor
    Servo penMotor;  //define the servomotor
    int potpin = A1;  //define servomotor pin
    int val;          //variable for servomotor

    const int buttonPin = 4;  // the number of the pushbutton pin
    int buttonState = 0;      // variable for reading the pushbutton status

    const int buttonPin1 = 5;
    int buttonState1 = 0;
    int home = 0;
    int prediction = 0;
    int start = 0;

    long ranValue;

    void penUp(){
    //PEN UP
    delay(1000);
    val = 0;
    val = map(val, 0, 1023, 0, 180);  
    penMotor.write(val);    
    }

    void penDown(){
        //PEN DOWN
        val = 90;
        penMotor.write(val);
    }

    void setup() {

    Serial.begin(9600);
    // Declare pins as output:
    pinMode(stepPin, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(dirPin, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);
    penMotor.attach(potpin);
    randomSeed(analogRead(0));

    lcd.begin();
    lcd.backlight();
    }

    void initit() {

    if ((buttonState == HIGH) && (home == 0)) {
        digitalWrite(dirPin, HIGH); 
        Serial.println("Reset...");    

        void penUp();
        prediction = 0;                      

        //Spin the stepper motor 5 revolutions fast:
        for (int i = 0; i < stepsPerRevolution; i++) {
        // These four lines result in 1 step:
        digitalWrite(stepPin, HIGH);
        delayMicroseconds(500);
        digitalWrite(stepPin, LOW);
        delayMicroseconds(500);
        }
    } else if (buttonState == LOW) {
        //Serial.println("Ready!");
        home = 1;
    }
    }

    void loop() {

    // read the state of the pushbutton value:
    buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);
    buttonState1 = digitalRead(buttonPin1);

    initit();

    if ((buttonState1 == LOW) && (home == 1)) {

        ranValue = random(0,23);  // 1000*20200
        ranValue = ranValue * 100;

        lcd.clear();
        lcd.setCursor(2,0);
        Serial.println("Predicting...");
        lcd.print("Predicting...");

        if (prediction == 0) {
        digitalWrite(dirPin, LOW);
        void penDown();

        for (int i = 0; i < ranValue; i++) {
            // These four lines result in 1 step:
            digitalWrite(stepPin, HIGH);
            delayMicroseconds(500);
            digitalWrite(stepPin, LOW);
            delayMicroseconds(500);
            prediction = 1;
        }
        //the prediction is done!
        lcd.clear();
        Serial.print("Your Lifex is: ");
        Serial.println(ranValue/23);
        lcd.setCursor(1,0);
        lcd.print("Your Lifex is: ");
        lcd.setCursor(7,1);
        lcd.print((ranValue/23)+10);

        //get back Home
        void penUp();
        delay(5000);
        home = 0;
        //initit();     
        } 
    }
    }

Final Result

Presentation

Video

Reflections

For a long time, I’ve been curious to delve into an operation of this nature. The idea of going beneath the surface of our technological devices has always intrigued me: not necessarily to understand every technical detail they offer, but to demystify them and create a more empathetic connection with what we typically consider as “machines” or “tools”.

Reading James Bridle’s “New Dark Age” was a revelation for me: it helped clarify how we often misconceive digital processes as occurring in some ethereal cloud. Bridle effectively debunks this notion, illustrating how these complex phenomena are inextricably linked to the real world and its resources. This realization is valid not only for physical interfaces, where the opacity often prevents users from understanding, repairing, or modifying the internals, but also for digital interfaces like AI. The opaque nature of AI’s data extraction processes often renders them unquestionable and inaccessible to users.

This is why adopting a critical approach towards technology is essential. We need to empathize with it, striving to observe and understand its mechanisms both from practical and conceptual standpoints.