MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DESIGN OF A SMART LAUNDRY SYSTEM

Abstract

The previous Smart Laundry prototype developed at the Mechatronics Study Program, Takumi Polytechnic, lacked a solid protective enclosure for its electronic components, making it vulnerable to vibration, overheating, and unorganized wiring layouts. This study aims to design and realize improvements to the mechanical and electrical aspects of the system, including an enclosure made of Polylactic Acid (PLA) fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing, a 5V Solenoid Door Lock mechanism, and standardized electrical installation using terminal blocks, cable lugs, and a socket interconnection system. The mechanical design was carried out using SolidWorks 2020, while testing was performed on 10 washing machine units operating on the rooftop of the Minori building, covering mechanical vibration resistance, thermal testing using a Type J thermocouple recorded every 3 minutes over a 15-minute cycle, and evaluation of the external wiring layout. The results show that the enclosure maintained the position and integrity of its components without shifting or loosening across all tested units. The active cooling fan reduced the average internal enclosure temperature from approximately 37.5°C to 36.0°C, well below the safe operating limit of the ESP32 (85°C) and the softening point of PLA (55-60°C). The application of flexible conduit and a plug-and-play socket interconnection system also improved the neatness and mechanical protection of the external wiring without any signs of damage. Overall, this design successfully improved the physical durability, thermal stability, and electrical installation safety of the Smart Laundry system compared to the previous prototype.