Automated iPad Time Clock

At Saunders Machine Works, they use a piece of iPad software as time clock, which cleverly tracks which employee is using it via facial recognition. While great in theory, one issue is that Saunders, like most businesses, employs people of different heights. With a little out of the box thinking, this challenge is “easily” solved, using a stepper-powered linear slide to adjust the device’s height depending on the user.

The build includes a pair of Lidar sensors to control the machine — one on the bottom of the assembly to determine if someone has walked up to the machine, and another above the iPad to stop it at the correct height. This allows both short and tall employees to keep tabs on their time, without having to bend down or adjust the iPad’s aim manually.

As you might expect with NYC CNC, the machining process is well-documented in the video, using flycutting, milling, and drilling operations to produce custom parts. Purchased components for the project and Arduino code can be found here, and they even feature an Arduino “Duo Nano Dock,” which enables you to mount two Nanos side-by-side. Perhaps that’s a clue to their “secret” project alluded to around the 12:40 mark!