Safety Guidelines

Important safety information for building and operating Fabrica

⚠️

Safety First!

Read all safety guidelines before starting your build. Improper assembly or operation can result in electrical shock, burns, or mechanical injury.

⚖️ Legal Notice and Liability Release

READ THIS BEFORE PROCEEDING. BY USING THESE PLANS, YOU ACCEPT ALL RISK.

Fabrica is an experimental DIY robotics project. It is not a certified consumer product. By building, modifying, or operating this device, you explicitly acknowledge and agree to the following terms:

  • Total Assumption of Risk: You assume 100% responsibility for any consequences arising from the assembly or use of this project. This includes, but is not limited to: fire, property damage, personal injury, electrical shock, or death.
  • "AS-IS" Status: This documentation and code are provided "AS-IS" without any warranties of any kind. The creators do not guarantee that the instructions are accurate, complete, or safe for your specific implementation.
  • Indemnification: You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the authors, contributors, and associated entities from any and all claims, damages, or legal fees resulting from your use of this information.
  • No Professional Advice: This guide is for educational purposes. It does not replace professional engineering or electrical advice. If you are not comfortable working with electricity or power tools, stop now.
  • Not a Toy: This device contains high-torque motors and electrical components. It is NOT A TOYand must be kept out of reach of unsupervised children and pets.

Fire & Electrical Safety

🔥 Fire Prevention

High-current electronics and stalled motors can generate significant heat.

  • •Never leave the robot unattended while it is powered on. Always unplug it when not in use.
  • •Stalled Motors: If a panel is blocked, the servo will draw maximum current and can melt 3D-printed parts or start a fire. Use the Emergency Stop immediately.
  • •Surface Safety: Never operate the robot on flammable surfaces (carpets, paper, etc.) or conductive surfaces (metal tables). Use a stable, heat-resistant, and non-conductive surface.
  • •Component Heat: The PCA9685 and servos can get hot during extended use. Allow cooling periods between heavy folding sessions.

Power Supply Safety

  • •Always disconnect power before making any wiring changes
  • •Use 5V power supplies rated 3A-10A depending on motor configuration (minimum 3A if running two motors in parallel). Each servo can draw up to 1.5A under stall conditions.
  • •Servo Stall Current: When a servo is blocked or stalled, it can draw maximum current (up to 1.5A) continuously, generating heat that can melt plastic parts or cause fire. Ensure proper power supply ratings.
  • •Avoid cheap power supplies that lack short-circuit protection and overcurrent protection. Use UL/CE certified power supplies only.
  • •Check polarity before connecting power (center-positive barrel jacks). Reversed polarity can permanently damage the PCA9685 and Raspberry Pi Pico.
  • •Never exceed voltage ratings: Pico logic = 3.3V (5V tolerant on some pins), PCA9685 = 5V-6V max, Servos = 4.8V-6V typical
  • •Common Ground: All power supplies must share a common ground. Failure to connect grounds can cause erratic behavior and component damage.

Wiring Safety

  • ⚡Double-check all connections before powering on. Verify pin assignments: I2C uses GPIO 0 (SDA) and GPIO 1 (SCL), buttons use GPIO 2-5, LED uses GPIO 6.
  • ⚡I2C Address Conflicts: The PCA9685 uses I2C address 0x40. Do not connect other I2C devices with the same address. Multiple PCA9685 boards require different addresses (A0-A5 pins).
  • ⚡Insulate exposed connections with heat shrink tubing or electrical tape. The PCA9685 has exposed solder pads that can short against metal surfaces.
  • ⚡Avoid creating short circuits between power and ground. Shorting 5V power rail can permanently damage components.
  • ⚡Use appropriate wire gauge for current load: 20-22 AWG for signal wires, 18-20 AWG for power distribution (servos).
  • ⚡Keep wires organized and away from moving servo arms and panel hinges. Use zip ties or wire management channels.
  • ⚡Strain Relief: Secure all cables near connectors to prevent stress on solder joints during servo movement.

Soldering Safety

  • • Work in a well-ventilated area
  • • Never touch the hot soldering iron tip
  • • Use a proper soldering iron stand
  • • Wear safety glasses when soldering
  • • Wash hands after handling solder (contains lead)

Mechanical Safety

Moving Parts & Personal Safety

  • ⚙️Keep fingers clear of servo motors and hinges during operation.
  • ⚙️Entanglement Hazard: Tie back long hair and avoid wearing loose clothing, jewelry, or dangling lanyards while operating the robot. These can become caught in hinges or motor shafts.
  • ⚙️Servos can pinch with significant force—enough to bruise or break skin. Exercise extreme caution.
  • ⚙️Do not force panels beyond their programmed range of motion. Forcing a servo can lead to mechanical failure or electrical stall.
  • ⚙️Secure all fasteners and structural components to prevent parts from becoming projectiles or causing mechanical jams.

3D Printing Safety

  • 🖨️Hot nozzles and beds can cause burns—never touch during/after printing
  • 🖨️Work in ventilated area when printing (especially ABS/PETG)
  • 🖨️Remove support material carefully using proper tools
  • 🖨️Deburr sharp edges on printed parts before assembly

Tool Safety

  • 🔧Use the right tool for each job—don't improvise
  • 🔧Wear safety glasses when cutting or drilling
  • 🔧Keep sharp tools away from the edge of your workspace
  • 🔧Cut away from yourself when using knives or cutters

Operation Safety

Safe Operation Guidelines

  • ✓Test on small items first before using valuable garments
  • ✓Monitor the first few cycles of any new folding sequence
  • ✓Do not overload panels with thick or heavy fabrics
  • ✓Keep the workspace clear of obstacles
  • ✓Stop immediately if you hear unusual sounds or see erratic movement

Emergency Stop

If anything goes wrong during operation:

  1. Immediately disconnect power by unplugging the power supply
  2. Do not attempt to stop moving parts with your hands
  3. Inspect the system before reconnecting power
  4. Identify and fix the issue before resuming operation

Supervision & Environment

  • 👥Supervise children and pets around the operating robot. Keep at least 12 inches clearance during operation.
  • 👥Place on a stable surface to prevent tipping. Minimum surface area: 18x18 inches. Do not place near table edges.
  • 👥Keep away from water and other liquids. This device is not waterproof and electrical components can short-circuit if wet.
  • 👥Operate in a dry location with adequate ventilation. Avoid humid environments (>70% humidity) that can cause corrosion.
  • 👥Temperature Range: Operate between 15°C-30°C (59°F-86°F). Extreme temperatures affect servo performance and can damage electronics.

Proper Shutdown Procedure

Follow this sequence to safely power down the robot:

  1. 1.Wait for motion completion: Allow any running folding sequence to finish. All servos should return to 0° home position.
  2. 2.Verify LED status: Ensure the LED is not blinking (indicating recording mode) before shutdown.
  3. 3.Disconnect USB first: If using USB for programming, disconnect USB cable from the Pico.
  4. 4.Remove main power: Unplug the 5V power supply from the wall outlet or power strip.
  5. 5.Wait 10 seconds: Allow capacitors to fully discharge before handling components.

⚠️ Important: Never pull the power plug while servos are actively moving. This can cause servos to lose their calibration and may corrupt saved motion sequences.

Pre-Operation Safety Checklist

Before each use, verify the following:

💡 Operational Best Practices

  • •Take breaks: Allow cool-down periods after extended operation to prevent overheating.
  • •Start simple: Test with basic movements before attempting complex folding sequences.
  • •Gradual operation: Start with fewer motors moving at once, then gradually increase complexity as you gain confidence.
  • •Proper storage: Store in a cool, dry location. Disconnect power when not in use for extended periods.
  • •Maintenance: Replace servos if they become noisy, jerky, or unresponsive.

Safety Review Complete

You've reviewed the safety guidelines. Keep these principles in mind throughout your build and operation. Next, learn about the system architecture to understand how Fabrica works.

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Getting Started: Architecture
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