Optical sorter -source files
Started 1y. Edited 1yStarted almost 2 years ago. Last edit over 1 year ago
Machines
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1
Electronics for the pS0 portable sorter
Published 1y. Edited 1yPublished over 1 year ago. Last edit over 1 year ago
The pS0 portable sorter uses off-the-shelf PCB modules, all wired together in a single PCB. The components are Adafruit Feather M4 microcontroller, 1 - 6 pcs. TCS34725 RGB light sensor, TCA9548 I2C multiplexer, and 1 - 6 pcs. MOSFET to drive the valve servos.
Files are from KiCAD 6.0.

2
Firmware for the pS0 portable sorter
Published 1y. Edited 1yPublished over 1 year ago. Last edit over 1 year ago
The pS0 portable sorter uses firmware written in CircuitPython 8 or compatible. It can work with up to 6 RGB sensors, each paired to a valve signal output. The TCS library is modified to not wait between queries, thus speeding up the process loop significantly.
The code can also be found here https://github.com/Turtle49/pS0



3
Mechanical design for the pS0 portable sorter
Published 1yPublished over 1 year ago
The pS0 portable sorter was designed using Autodesk Fusion 360.

4
97% sorting accuracy
Published 1y. Edited 1yPublished over 1 year ago. Last edit over 1 year ago
pS0 is able to filter out 97% of the targeted particles.

5
Empirical design
Published 1yPublished over 1 year ago
We used a trial-and-error loop, where we 3D printed the channel, tested it, analyzed video of it, and refined our design.





6
Integrated system
Published 1yPublished over 1 year ago
We finally integrated the entire system over a 5 gallon bucket. To operate it you need 100VAC and and compressed air to 15 psi. 0.5 Kg can be loaded at one time through the top of the system. A vibratory feeder moves particles in a file towards the sorting channel, where the sensors scan every particle that falls through it. If a particle is of interest, then compressed air is used to set the particle aside. In the case below we were looking for blue particles.



7
pS0 in action
Published 1yPublished over 1 year ago
The optical sorter pS0, an experimental prototype for sorting solid scrap, is sorting plastic (PLA) scrap of different colors, separating blue particles from the mix. Here we see a closeup of the particles as they are about to enter the sorting channel, and then a peek to the inside of the 5 gallon bucket.
8
Optical sorter in action
Published 1yPublished over 1 year ago
Optical sorter pS0 is separating blue particles from a material stream of PLA particles, 5 mm in diameter.
