Overview
Replaced Prof. Harris's 28-year-old classroom logic gate demo board. The old one had dim LEDs, loose wiring, duct-taped parts, and acid-leaking batteries. The new one is durable, portable, visible across a 100-seat lecture hall, and built to last 30 years. Came in at $71.05 against a $150 budget.
$71.05final cost vs. $150 budget
30+ yrsdesign life, replacing a 28-year-old failing board
Design & Development
the original 28-year-old board we replaced
CAD design and layout planning
modular component design
laser cutting and 3D printing process
circuit assembly and testing
getting feedback from target users
How it worked
Full-spectrum contributor: co-led SolidWorks CAD, soldered IC circuits, ran evaluation tests, coordinated team progress. Directly managed integration of mechanical and electrical systems.
- Seven integrated logic gates (2 AND, 2 OR, 2 NOT, 1 XOR) with modular wiring and removable banana plugs for live student interactivity.
- Push-button inputs and high-visibility LEDs readable from 50 ft in lecture; 555 timer clock signal for dynamic input demos.
- 74HC IC family instead of microcontrollers, preserving authenticity of logic circuits while staying under budget.
- Laser-cut plywood + 3D-printed color-coded gate inlays for visibility and durability; 3D-printed wiring bridges to prevent fraying.