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Optical sorter -source files

Optical sorter -source files

MicroRecycling Systems
microrecycling
Started 1y. Edited 1yStarted almost 2 years ago. Last edit over 1 year ago
Machines
Completed
We are building an optical sorter with capacity of 1 - 10 kg/hr. Here we present a prototype of a portable optical sorter that fits on top of a 5 gal. bucket and sort 1 kg/hr. per channel (up to 6 channels). It sorts according to color, RGB, as programmed by the operator. It can sort for multiple colors (e.g., blue and green out of a complex mix of colors). This project was done in collaboration with Diproinduca https://www.diproinduca.com/
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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.
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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
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Mechanical design for the pS0 portable sorter

Published 1yPublished over 1 year ago
The pS0 portable sorter was designed using Autodesk Fusion 360.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.
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Precious Plastic Community is a project by One Army.Please sponsor the work or help us build the software.