In order to improve the application in teaching electronic-mechanical training, lecturer Vo Thanh Tung and his partners at Dong Nai University of Technology have developed solutions to apply Arduino in laser engraving machines and 3D plastic printers.  

Arduino is a microprocessor board used to program the interactions with hardware devices such as sensors, motors, lights, or other devices. The outstanding features of Arduino are an easy-to-use applications for everybody, even for those who don’t have good knowledge of electronics.

Lecturer Vo Thanh Tung said, in 3D plastic printers applying Arduino in the implementation process will ensure more flexibility in movement as well as in control mode and levels of accuracy compared to traditional mold making methods.

This model uses computers connected to Arduino board via USB ports to control the motors connected to the three axes of X, Y, Z of the printer. The heat exchanger melts plastic to make layers on the object to be printed.

In particular, the mechanical part of the 3D printer uses a bi-polar stepper motor, a vitamer motor to control printing positions; the part of electronics is designed for the engine, connecting and handling information between a 3D printers and a computer; and the part of programming and control interfaces will use the Repetier software to control the information transmission program via USB to the Arduino board.

For laser engraving machines, computers are also connected to the Arduino board via USB ports to control the stepper motor, which is connected to the X and Y axes of the engraving machine. The laser head is moved along the X, Y axes that are carved or cut according to the drawing on the computer.

In terms of design, the mechanical part of the laser engraving machine will use a bio-polar stepper motor with a belt in combination with a Profin V roll. The part of electronics is designed for the engine power to connect and transmit information between the engraving machine and the computer. The part of programming and control interface uses GRPL software to control the program to transmit information from USD to the Arduino board.

In terms of economic efficiency, the solution uses the Arduino board in laser engraving machines as well as 3D plastic printers to make samples for research and production of high efficiency.

In addition, the exploration of the research team shows that applying Arduino board in laser engraving machines and 3D plastic printers during the molding process will result in a much lower cost than the prototype made in a traditional way but it meets the requirements for technology and quality.

The application of the Arduino board and laser engraving machines and 3D plastic printers is designed according to foreign technologies by Vietnamese authors. It is a combination of engineering, electronics, and information technology.

This application implemented with the current technical level is to provide more practical equipment for the teaching activities at training institutions, colleges and universities.