Published April 19, 2021

Lane Tech HS - PCL - Automatic door closer (Prototype)

A system that closes my closet door using a servo motor and an Particle Argon

IntermediateFull instructions provided6 hours255

Lane Tech HS - PCL - Automatic door closer (Prototype)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Digilent Stepper Motor

Particle Argon

Male/Female Jumper Wires

Breadboard (generic)

Software apps and online services

Particle Build Web IDE

Blynk

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Tape, Duct

Rope/twine

Scissors, Free Fall

Hot glue gun (generic)

Story

This project was part of the Lane Tech HS Physical Computing Lab course. I created this project as part of the Home Automation project.

Summary

This projects job is to close my closet door when a button is pressed on the Blynk App.

Picture of the final Prototype:

Wiring

I first started by setting up my wiring and connecting the wires from the servo to the bread board which includes the Particle argon. The set up looks like the following:

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Blynk Setup

For those who don't know what Blynk is, its app is a great way to create a simple app to interact with your Particle device. Because the app will reside on your phone, you also get access to your phone's native sensors like its GPS or its accelerometer(not used in this project). Here is a link to help set up your app: http://docs.blynk.cc/#getting-started-getting-started-with-the-blynk-app.

From there it is pretty straight forward if you follow the following images:

1 / 3

Hardware and Building

Well because in stuck inside, all I really had to work with for materials was whatever was laying around the house and what I was able to find in my dads workshop.

Setup wise its pretty simple. Its a portable charger/battery pack connected to the argon, which connects to the motor. Most of the "hardware" comes in the mechanism that closes the door. My final design was a wooden T that was attached to the motor. This is because it allows for a space for the twine to wind up and pull the door closed.

Step by step process:

1. Attach T to motor. I personally used superglue but any adhesive works well. If you do use any time of glue however, I recommend clamping it for at least 20 minutes.

1 / 2

2. Using tape (preferably DuckTape), connect the twine to the T. The tape will hold the twine in place and if not done correctly, there will be no pulling action on the door.

3. Using a command strip attach the motor to the wall. Press and hold motor to wall for 15 seconds in oder for it to stick.

4. Tie knot to the top of your door( DISCLAIMER: This only works for sliding doors) in order to connect the door and twine.

After everything is connected and properly working, you now have a working automatic door close at the push of a button from your phone!

Yes I know I filmed it vertically Im sorry. I'll upload another video soon in Horizontal

Sorry the quality is bad but you get the idea of it working. Is it slow? Yes. But it works!

Changes I would make and Notes

- Cut more than enough rope in order for it to wind up

Code

Stepper Motor/Main doc Code

// This #include statement was automatically added by the Particle IDE.
#include <blynk.h>

// This #include statement was automatically added by the Particle IDE.
#include <Stepper.h>

// Authorization code is sent from Blynk to your email
// after creating a new project in the app.
char auth[] = "ML_qTyRNk27CvytotIx7yhoBosMY2yJA";

int mottor1 = D4;

// There seems to be variations in proper value on the Interwebs.
// With some testing 2048 seems to be the right answer
const int stepsPerRevolution = 2048;
int rotate = 0; 
// Change the pins below to match your Argon set up
#define IN1 4
#define IN2 5
#define IN3 6
#define IN4 7

// Pins entered in sequence IN1-IN3-IN2-IN4 for proper step sequence
Stepper myStepper(stepsPerRevolution, IN1, IN3 , IN2, IN4);


void setup() {
  // Adjustable range of 28BYJ-48 stepper is 0~17 rpm
  // Putting anything above this seems to make the motor not spin at all.
  // There are some examples out there that use a value of 100+.
  // I couldn't get those to work.
  myStepper.setSpeed(17);
 
  Serial.begin(9600);

   Blynk.begin(auth);  // Connects Particle device to Blynk Cloud

    pinMode(mottor1, OUTPUT);

}
BLYNK_WRITE(V0)
{
    if(param.asInt() == 1)
    {
        Serial.println("Button: True");
    for(int rotate = 0; rotate < 5; rotate++)
    {
        Serial.println("Rotating: Countclockwise");
            myStepper.step(stepsPerRevolution);
        }
    }
}

void loop()
{
    Blynk.run();    // Pings the Blynk project
}

Credits

Gavin Trotter

3 projects • 2 followers

Daniel Law

16 projects • 8 followers

Teacher. Maker. Citizen of the planet.

Lane Tech HS - PCL - Automatic door closer (Prototype)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Story

Summary

Wiring

Blynk Setup

Hardware and Building

Changes I would make and Notes

Schematics

Schematic

Code

Stepper Motor/Main doc Code

Credits

Gavin Trotter

Daniel Law

Comments

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Lane Tech HS - PCL - Automatic door closer (Prototype)

Lane Tech HS - PCL - Automatic door closer (Prototype)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Story

Summary

Wiring

Blynk Setup

Hardware and Building

Changes I would make and Notes

Schematics

Schematic

Code

Stepper Motor/Main doc Code

Credits

Gavin Trotter

Daniel Law

Comments

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