AiChessBoard

Now I added the chess notation and placed the peices on the board so the model looks closer to the real setup. I also added the magnet at the bottom so I can plan how it will pull the pieces from under the board. I made a few small tolerance and fitting changes, like adjusting the holes and spacing so the parts should fit better when printed. This helped me check if the board, pieces, and motion system all have enough room to work together. Next, I want to keep testing the fiting and make sure the magnet can line up under each square.

I worked on the X-axis system today. I tried a lot of ideas, but I think a pancake stepper motor with a belt drive is the best option becuase it should be smoother and more accurate. I also made a servo design, but the shape did not work well and the whole setup was alot too big.I also CADed the electromagnet so I could see how it would attach to the moving carriage. This helped me check the spacing between the belt, motor, pulley, and magnet holder. The hardest part was fitting everything into a small space while still making it strong and precise. Next, I want to test the movment across the board and see if it lines up with each chess square.

I planned the X-axis system. I figured out that I want to use a pancake stepper motor with belts becuase it should move faster and more accurately. I also made the bezels around the board longer so there is more room for the motors and other parts. This should help keep the middle of the board open while giving the gantry enough space to move under the board. The hardest part now is making the movment smooth while keeping the whole setup compact. Next, I want to clean up the belt path and add the right pulleys. It also took some time to find online cad for the leadscrews and the stepper motors, and choose the right size of lead screw and test in the cad.

I started by sketching out the base using CAD, adding in the main chessboard grid and servo mounting holes around the edges, so that I could start working on how to incorporate the mechanism.

I also began working on the mechanism. for the moment I have an idea for a gantry system, using an electromagnet to pick up and move pieces from under the board. The challenge will likely be keeping it accurate, to line up with each square without making the board thicker . For the next iteration I will want to work on the gantry layout and how to incorporate a electromagnet, servos and the piece mechanism.