CoolCompanion

Dev Log #11

GOOD NEWS THE PERF BOARDS WORKED!

So it took me a long time to get the perf boards to work but now they work! So now i got to finish the firmware and finish the soldering for the temp sensor

Dev Log #10

So i got my new boards, Minus the air bubbles under the solder pads, I tried them and the same design flaw remains, Now I’m going to perf board, if this doesn’t work then i got to get even more creative for this.

Or if i can find out the flaw exactly then ill redesign PCB’s

Dev Log #9

More problems, so during my process of getting a board to work so i can finish software, i discovered a design error and i cant track back exactly what the problem is however its causing major issues, so now back to the drawing board…

Dev Log #8

Slightly more interesting news, So i received my new boards from oshpark and started soldering however then i noticed that the solder mask was not fully cured on the boards and have since contacted support and now it is in the works of getting me replacements..

For now im going to try and use a pcb from the previous manufacturer to try and get a working prototype again so i can continue work on software.

Dev Log #7

Well…. Sad news… The PCB that i had designed and had printed and i was assembling… Somehow the trace broke internally. I verified it with a multimeter that the 5v rail was not functioning properly and took the necessary troubleshooting steps. This all happened when i was working on the code, Not really sure how it broke but now i have decided to make a few changes to the board pad sizes for easier soldering on this version, and to get it from a new manufacture. Time to wait for shipping again, Wish me luck! (Also the code i am making is coming along well!)

Dev Log #6

After much much time, I finally received the parts and got to soldering… unfortunately i messed up one of the boards…. But i tried again with the parts i had left over, and it works! all that is missing is the fan being connected but im waiting to build software before that!

Thank you for sticking along with me on this journey hopefully it can be done soon!

(And yes i did have to do some repairs on the circuit design as the cheap board pads broke)

Dev Log #5

It’s almost done, everyone!

The model has been completed, the circuitry is done, and the PCB is finished.

All that is left is to assemble it all together (sanding 3D prints, soldering, etc.)

Looking forward to showing my progress. All the parts should be in my hands in about a week or so.

See you then!

Dev Log #4

Work and more work, Over the last day or so i have been working on the PCB, after forgetting to add the temperature sensor to the test circuit i went back and added that as well, the PCB is almost complete all is left is routing the traces and some last finishing touches, here is a rundown of what has been done so far across the project

Completed sketches;
Completed Test Circuitry;
90% Completion of the 3D model;
85% Completion of the PCB;

Overall project: ~75%

Dev Log #3

Major Major progress has been made so far; the circuit has been tested and is working, showing the current fan RPM and the ability to change the fan speed via the rotary encoder. It is only on breadboards; however, the next step is PCB design, then finishing the model!

Dev Log #2

In the past several days, I have been working on the enclosure for the whole device, With it being close to 90% done, with the only left to do is finish the circuit then make sure it will all fit inside. The “CoolCompanion” is one more step towards revolutionizing your way of cooling.

We ALL have this problem!
No matter if you are at home or at the office, we ALL have this problem!

The problem I am talking about?

Well, I mean a very simple one: being too hot and making you uncomfortable.

Normal fans? They may work just fine; however, they are not smart. They don’t know when you are comfortable, and they don’t know how annoying they may be.

As someone who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where temperatures can reach past a hundred degrees Fahrenheit (~38 degrees Celsius), I believe that I am very experienced in this topic and well equipped to make a solution to this problem. No matter where you may live, this may help you.

And the solution?
Sensors and the ability to tune your fan to your preferences!
This includes:
a temperature sensor
a rotary encoder
an LCD/OLED screen

This means you can tune your fan to turn on and off whenever it gets too hot, no more fighting over turning the fan on and off manually, and the ability to change fan speed allows you to make sure the fan doesn’t get too loud or simply so it doesn’t mess up your hair (totally no personal experience in this)

Within my first hour of this project, I have worked on getting measurements and working on designs for my project, inspired by a classic desktop fan.