My Nonstop / Skittles sorting machine  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Kaptein QK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 03:27:50 pm
content: I really don't need my candy sorted, but I like the challengeThere is still a few problems:Candy dispenser works poorly when it is much candy in it. I am going to make a motorized stirrer for it.Color recognition sometimes fails. I will try to improve the algorithm.Technical:Parts made on my 3D-printer.TCS3200 color sensor.Arduino Nano (No Arduino IDE where harmed)Standard R/C servos.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 08:38:17 pm
content: Way too much time on your hands!

author: Clint
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 08:41:45 pm
content: I absolutely love it, however you are working on a problem that does not exist:http://www.temptationcandy.com/favorite-candy-brands/skittles.htmlBut seriously full respect, showing a multitude of high end skills !

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 08:58:42 pm
content: Quote from: Kaptein QK on November 04, 2013, 03:27:50 pmPut a cell phone vibrator motor on the side of the hopper....either that or a paint can shaker motor

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 11:09:35 pm
content: Holy crap, 3D printers are seriously impressive! Well the whole project is!

author: Legit-Design
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 11:20:32 pm
content: Quote from: Kaptein QK on November 04, 2013, 03:27:50 pmCould it be that you are using cold white almost blue leds? Cold white might be the cheapest in volume, maybe they specced something else and decided to save money on manufacturing by optimizing.But I agree with everyone else, that is really nice.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 11:47:10 pm
content: That's pretty cool! Here is one I built over the course of a weekend2/2(obviously not something I built)

author: iceisfun
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 11:47:28 pm
content: Thats awesome!I'm working on a robot to play pool, there are a lot of challenges on this and I am running into some custom parts that need made so I've gone a little off track into making a 3D CNC mill to make other parts.I think the color and ball position will be the most critical part, I have a good grasp on the table solver, robotics and electronics but its a fun project. Maybe someday it will even run a rack or more importantly run large test sets of data on tips, draw, follow, etc with no human failure factors involved.

author: ElectronicTonic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2013, 12:26:14 am
content: Quote from: David_AVD on November 04, 2013, 08:38:17 pmNo such thing as too much time on one's hands. The truth is - there is never enough time to do everything one wants to do.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2013, 06:08:18 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on November 04, 2013, 11:47:10 pmSo that's what robots do all night long when we are sleeping and they are bored.

author: sprocket
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2013, 09:29:55 am
content: plus 1 the nerd scale. I'm impressed with the nice use of a 3D printer.

author: Kaptein QK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2013, 10:36:19 am
content: Quote from: Clint on November 04, 2013, 08:41:45 pmIt is even worse: the "skittles" I am using is a Norwegian brand called "Nonstop" (makes sense! :-), and all the colors have same taste!

author: Kaptein QK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2013, 10:40:14 am
content: Quote from: Skimask on November 04, 2013, 08:58:42 pmI could not find a vibrator motor (....lulz..)I bet a paint shaker would make a fine brown powder out of the candy

author: Kaptein QK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2013, 10:44:03 am
content: Quote from: Legit-Design on November 04, 2013, 11:20:32 pmI think you are right, I was confuzzled over the strange RGB values I got from the sensor. AFAIK the white leds is mostly blue and yellow wavelenghts.I will replace the leds with a small incadecent bulb for a more flat spectrum.

author: Kaptein QK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2013, 02:00:04 pm
content: A red, green and blue led will probably do it, but I see no use for a IR one.

author: Kaptein QK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 12:11:29 am
content: Update:I used RGB LEDs instead of the "white" ones. Also controlled the LEDs instead of the RGB filters on the sensor. This improved the color recognition.Also I added a servo driven stirrer to help the candy into the dispenser. This made it better, but still it misses sometimes.Also I have attached source code and the Sketchup 3D file.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 02:02:18 am
content: Impressive result. I don't think I could put that much time and effort into something which has no practical use.One thing that strikes me is how sequential it is. There is no reason that it couldn't bin the sorted skittle, detect color, and stir the feed bowl simultaneously. One thing at a time seems to be the Arduino way.

author: Kjetil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2013, 07:56:23 am
content: Ah, good to see quality designs coming out of NorwayHave you printed it in ABS or PLA?

author: dissidence
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 28, 2013, 02:29:36 am
content: this is just a though but how hard would it be to use 1 servo on the end that pushes the 2 arms for the belt and sorter. i think it could work,but kudos on the design.

author: sachleen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2013, 02:56:25 am
content: Cool project!There was anotherskittle sorting machine on hackadaya few days ago where the interesting thing is that it releases the candy as it rotates the arm to the next cup to make it faster.

author: holozip
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 31, 2013, 01:41:59 am
content: Haha, this is amazing! Great jobEDIT: holy crap, you 3D printed the parts for that... I'm completely and utterly in awe. Well done!

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2013, 02:51:02 am
content: Another option is to use high CRI (color rendering index) leds. I'm pretty certain Cree and Nichia make them in a variety of form factorsSent from my EVO using Tapatalk

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2013, 03:57:04 am
content: Quote from: Kaptein QK on November 04, 2013, 03:27:50 pmAwsome! I am impressed with your creativity and skill!

author: ch3ck
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 07, 2015, 09:41:40 am
content: Hi,Sorry to use an old topic but I m trying to make this machin and I don't know which pins you used on arduino board to plus servos and sensors. Maybe somthing I didn understand or see (Yees I m really noob).Is it possible to make the same software with servo library ?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2015, 11:10:00 am
content: Quote from: Clint on November 04, 2013, 08:41:45 pmSays who? There's dozens of applications for this, eg. People who recycle plastic bottle caps have to separate them by color.And if you're applying for a job it doesn't matter what it actually does - look at the brilliant engineering!

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2015, 12:03:12 pm
content: It could be useful if you are a music promoter!http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/vanhalen.asp