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Breakthroughs
This section details some of the breakthroughs and discoveries we made during our audacious excursion through uncharted vertical plotting territory...

04.29.01
Objective: To complete this project.
Results: No matter how much we manage to accomplish, there's always more we could implement!

04.25.01
Objective: To allow the user to input points that can be plotted automatically.
Results: When anything is left to the user, everything can go wrong.

04.23.01
Objective: To build our own soldered, portable 8515 programmer.
Results: Ignore STK200 documentation, and do not use any components (like diodes) that a CS major doesn't understand.

04.20.01
Objective: To have the computer control both motors and draw a vertical line of fixed length.
Results: Our design improves the users self-esteem by inexplicably inflating the input length by a factor of 50%.

04.18.01
Objective: To finish soldering firing circuit for both stepper motors.
Results: Solder has become a hot commodity around the 476 lab.

04.16.01
Objective: To add second motor to plotter assembly and attempt manual plotting via pushbuttons.
Results: Duct tape can fix anything.

04.13.01
Objective: To lift the pen off the board using a push/pull solenoid.
Results: Do not depend on Guardian Electronics to send you free samples of their products.

04.11.01
Objective: 1. To draw an arc by attaching the wire to one motor, and fixing the other end.
2. To attach the pen.
Results: 1. The motors do not have enough torque to only excite one coil at a time.  Instead, excite two.
2. The dry erase markers fit perfectly through the center of the spool of fishing line.

04.09.01
Objective: To get a stepper motor to turn a specific number of revolutions.
Results: 1. Our 7.5 degree motors require 48 ticks for one revolution.
2. The stepper motors become uncomfortably warm, but it is apparently "okay".

04.06.01
Objective: To purchase needed hardware and supplies.
Results: 1. Sears does not carry curtain hangers.
2. Ames does not carry bookends.