<br> <b> <font size="5"> Machine Building </font> </b> <font size="4"> We did not receive a formal homework assignment this week, so I used this page to reflect on the lesson. <br> <br> We started this lesson by studying robots built by former students. All five models were sophisticated and demonstrated different design approaches. The common element was the use of stepper motors. I found Suvin's bioprinter especially interesting. It was built from the ground up and used a syringe-based extrusion approach instead of a standard filament extruder. <br> I was especially fascinated by stepper motors. They are highly precise because they divide a full rotation into discrete steps. Stepper motors are widely used in robotics and 3D printers. I had not programmed one before this class, but I plan to continue experimenting with them at home. <br>