Project

Automatic Pill Cutter

Electronics · 3D design · Programming

Overview

I collaborated with a pharmacist friend to automate the tedious task of pill cutting. Designed a device featuring a custom solenoid and an easily replaceable X-Acto blade, streamlining the process and improving efficiency.

This presents all the different design approaches I explored and attempted to implement. Although they ultimately did not succeed, each effort provided valuable insights and learning experiences.

Outcomes

Although the project was both fascinating and educational, I ultimately found that I couldn’t achieve the necessary reliability to develop it into a practical product suitable for real-world use. With access to more precise and higher-quality components, the design might have been viable. Commercial pill-cutting machines sold to pharmacies typically cost over $2,500, underscoring the complexity of creating a reliable device. Alternatively, I could have pursued a slower design where the user places each pill into a designated slot, and the machine moves the pill laterally, cuts it, and then dispenses it. This experience provided valuable insights into precision engineering and the challenges of automating delicate tasks in the medical field.