Doing the quarantine period, everyone is forced to stay home. No one can play sports, hang out with friends, or have lunch in restaurants. Instant noodles must have become a favorable choice! It is so convenient, and in some cases, acceptably delicious! This project is an alternative version of the "Arduino Clock V.2.0" made by Pranav Jhunjhunwala, which transformed form a clock to a 3-minute instant noodle timer.

This project, the Instant Noodle Timer, is designed to time for making instant noodles. The timer will begin the 3 minutes count-up when the button is pressed, which may be activated when placing the noodle bowl on to the button. The time will be indicated with the spot which the arrow points to, while the wheel will turn every 15 seconds.

Modification to the Arduino Clock V.2.0 (Optional reading/Does not affect procedure)

As mentioned, this project is created based on the original design of the "Arduino Clock V.2.0", with some modification to the design and the coding. The changes to the coding will be shown in the section of coding. The major changes to the original project are:
From a 12-hours clock to a 3-minutes timer An additional button and platform for placing the instant noodleThe energy source, Arduino set, motor, jump wires are different from the ones used in the original project (shown in the material list)*Since the design of the timer project uses DC motor (direct current), its ability of timing is likely not to be accurate, which was the major reason for the adjustment.

Step 1: Material Preparation

The materials needed for this project is divided into three parts: Electronic/ Technical Equipments, Mechanical Materials, and the tools.

Electronic/ Technical Equipments:

A DC (direct current) motor, 12V (voltage) with 20 RPM (revolutions per minute) will be best (I used a 5~12V, 25 RPM motor)
Arduino Leonardo (Arduino Uno should also be okay)
L293D (IC)Breadboard (any size, but make sure it is big enough for the project)
Jump wires (better prepare at least 30)
5V voltage regulator (I used 7805 ic)Adapter (from Arduino to laptop, if using Mac)
2 AA batteries & 1 AA battery case (for Arduino)
An at least 5V energy source (I used single 12V 23A battery, but it runs out in about an hour, so not recommending)
Button (any button that works with your Arduino)
Electric resistance (any that fits the button/ I used 10k 5% tolerance)

Mechanical Materials:

Card boards
A4 papers (harder ones for photo printing will be better)

Tools:

Tape or glue (I used hot melt adhesive and tape)
Scissor or utility knife
Driller or awl (optional, utility knife will also work)

Step 2: Connecting Technical Parts

In this project, the technical part is first finished before the mechanical part as it is better to make sure the mechanical parts work.
Connect the pins of L293D (the pins may be identified with the picture; use the small triangle dent to make sure sides)

Pin 1, 8, 9, 16 to enable / + terminal of battery (12V)
Pin 2 to Arduino pin 3
Pin 3, 6 to motor (either pin)
Pin 4, 5, 12, 13 to ground/ - terminal of battery (12V)
Pin 7 to Arduino pin 4

Connect the 5V Voltage Regulator

Output to Arduino +/5V
GND (ground) to ground/ (-) terminal of battery (AA)
Input to enable / (+) terminal of battery (AA)

Connect the Button

One leg of button to Arduino +/5V
Another leg of button to Arduino pin 2 & resistance
Connect other end of resistance to GND (ground) of Arduino

Step 3: Creating Mechanical Part

Creating Base

Create a rectangle box with the cardboard as the base
Leave the bottom of the box open in case any adjustment needs to be make
Drill to holes at one side of the box to let the wires of button and motor to go through
Cut two circular holes to hold the button and the motor (large enough to place it but not too large to let it drop; if the hole is too large, stick the button/motor to the box)

Creating Wheel/Clock

Create two circles with card board (same size)
Drill a hole at the center of one piece (the size of the motor axis)
Create the surface of the timer with hard paper
Divide the circumference distance of the circle into 12 sections, than write the number according to the sections (+15 seconds, +15 seconds...)
Connect the paper with the circle card boards

Creating the Arrow/Needle

Cut the arrow out from cardboard

Step 4: Combining the Parts

Place the button and the motor into the holes
Put the wires of the button and the motor through the side holes, attach back to the breadboard
Stick the wheel to the axis of the motor

*Make sure that the wheel is tight and stable on the motor axis

*Be careful if using hot melt adhesive

Step 5: Coding

The coding context will be placed here, as while as the link to to download the coding.

The code start after the line.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

int in1 = 3;

int in2 = 4;

void setup()

{

pinMode(in1, OUTPUT);

pinMode(in2, OUTPUT);

pinMode( 2 , INPUT); // sets the digital pin as input （改，加上按鈕） pinMode( 12 , OUTPUT); // sets the digital pin as output （改，加上按鈕）

}

void loop()

{ if (digitalRead( 2 )) { for (int i = 0 ; i < 60 ; ++i ) // （改，假如按鈕被按下）

digitalWrite(in1, LOW); // （改，馬達先停止/延遲）

digitalWrite(in2, LOW);

delay(14630); // （改，延遲時間） digitalWrite(in1, HIGH); // （改，馬達先延遲再轉動）

digitalWrite(in2, LOW);

delay(370); // （改，延遲時間） } }

__________________________________________________________________________________________

*The "改" part is the changes I made from the original coding

Code Link: https://create.arduino.cc/editor/casper1218/a4c12ad4-4a15-41de-bf50-768b493b6d43/preview

Adjustment

According to the energy condition of the battery, the speed of the motor will decrease overtime
The time length each time the motor turns is the line "delay(370)", which the number (370) can be changed according to your battery/motor condition; find the correct time by seeing if your number may let the motor finish a complete circle in 12 turns; after getting the correct time, minus 15000 with the number to receive the delaying time for "delay(14630)"

*1000= 1 second

Step 6: Good Luck, and Stay Healthy!

Wish you have good luck trying out this project! Stay strong and healthy during the pandemic, and remember to wash your hands before having your noodle!