Educational equipment for teaching mechatronics, ball and rod system

Abstract

This work carried out by the authors, professors of Engineering in Mechatronics, Faculty of Engineering – National University of Cuyo, which together with a pair of students, addresses the experimental teaching topic. The objective was to design, build and launch an educational equipment that integrates the concepts that give rise the above mentioned engineering. At the same time and from a local perspective, it is used for next cohorts to practice without to buy similar and sometimes very expensive device, in that sense is a contribution to education in an attempt to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Was chosen the case of a ball which can move on a rod that in its center and through reduction gears, is linked to a DC motor´s shaft, the idea is to position the ball anywhere on the rod, so the motor makes a braked over the rod to move the ball to indicated position and hold it there, even in presence of disturbances in the form of short pulses.