virtual-fablab

The purpose of this project is to make an open-source 3D-virtualization tool. User can control and edit a 3D-object with e.g. power glove in 3D-computer graphic software called Blender.

We build a Power Glove which uses Arduino Uno, MPU6050 accelerometer, two bending resistor and two buttons.

This software is tested on Blender versions 2.76-2.78 on Windows 7 and 10. The software partial Linux support with limited functionality, tested on Ubuntu 14.04.

How to use this project:

1. Install Arduino IDE

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

2. Download libraries for Arduino

Firstly, you have to download (and “install”) two libraries: I2Cdevlib and MPU6050. The former solves issues related to the communication while the latter includes some useful functions to configure and operate the sensor. Both libraries can be downloaded from https://github.com/jrowberg/i2cdevlib/Arduino. The installation process is as easy as copying both folders within the Arduino IDE installation path (typically C:/Program Files (x86)/Arduino/libraries).

3. Download and install Blender

https://www.blender.org/download/

4. Download and install pyserial

https://github.com/pyserial/pyserial

Download the pySerial from link above as zip-file. Extract the zip-file and open the extracted folder. Copy folder serial to your Blender Foundation\Blender\YourBlenderVersion\scripts\modules folder.

This is usually located in Program Files in 64-bit systems and Program Files (x86) in 32-bit systems. Example path where to copy the folder: C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.78\scripts\modules.

You can test pySerial working properly by typing import serial in Blender's python console. If you don't see any error messages is pySerial installed properly.

5. Installing the add-on

Download the file VirtualizationTool.py and save it to your computer.

In Blender in User Preferences -view, click Add-ons and click Install from File button at the bottom. Now navigate and choose file you downloaded and click Install from File.

Now you should see the program listed as add-on in Object category with name control object. Next enable add-on by checking its checkbox. Now VirtualizationTool panel should appear on very left of your 3D-view window.

If you want to panel to start automatically on launch click Save User Settings button in User Preferences after checking the add-on checkbox. This will load the add-on always on Blender launch.

6. Use the system and please feel free to edit the code!