Industrial Design – Studio
Comprehensive Design:
Die Grinder
Reimagining Die Grinders for the Desktop Modeler
Die Grinders are a powerful tool in multiple industrial applications, but what if we can reorient the technology behind it and apply it to the desktop modeler’s needs.
Project Timeline
September 2022 – December 2022
Course:
IDES3310A
Design Processes
Secondary Research, Market Analysis, Manufacturing Analysis, Physical Sketching, Testing, Computer Aided Design, 3D Printing, sub-scale prototyping
Software
Sketchbook, Solidworks, Keyshot, InDesign, Illustrator
Section A – The Opportunity
Die Grinders have so much
potential for use in a
household modelling environment
Diversification
The integral system that makes die grinders work gives an opportunity to diversify into a more hobbyist, soft material, household setting.
Affordance
Introduction of elements that make the tool easier and more inviting to use to the household desktop modeler is imperative.
Control
Existing grinders have limited granularity in control, but in order to diversify this tool into another market, that area must be taken into consideration.
Rotary Vane Motors
Favored over other types of pneumatic actuation for tools that need rotary movement such as die grinders due to its relative simplicity and packaging.
Section B
Preliminary Ideation
Diversification
How do we improve the user experience of the grinder for the user?
Ergonomics
How do we improve the form of the die grinder so it can be held easier? Do we need to even improve it at all?
Affordance
How do we improve the visual appeal of the grinder so it is more appealing to a household?
Section C
Testing
Testing Objectives
Form
Find out which general form is the most appealing for the resulting product.
Weight
Find out the optimal weight or range of weights for the resulting tool.
Ergonomics
Find out which shape is the most comfortable and easiest to use for a diverse set of users.
Testing Insights
- Form A is best.
- Existing Proportions and sizing of test models are adequate.
- Reference grinder is too heavy.
- The safety lock was found to be unergonomic.
- There is a desire to be able to change the tools by hand.
Post-Testing note
- The testing setup failed to provide a set of weights for users to test, so the weight tests are done with the existing grinder in mind.
Section D
Design Definition
Further Ideation
After testing concluded, various ideation was performed using the testing data to formulate better points of improvement for ergonomics, affordance and control, keeping in mind the preliminary ideation.
This was then implemented into the Definitive Design.
Form Validation
In order to validate the definitive design form, various models were made in order to physically visualize and “mass” the design.
This allowed verification of sizing and initial feature placement and proportions.
Mechanical Modelling
While the form was being verified, the mechanical design of the grinder was also modeled, making sure the form fits the internal components needed for the grinder to operate.
This is also done to ensure its components are mass-manufacturable or if it can be sourced from a COTS Supplier.
Section E
Definitive Design
Section F
Project Debrief
Immense insights gained on the comprehensive implementation of the design process.
From researching a market segment and technology space, the identification of a problem, and opportunity spaces from it, to the synthesis of a potential solution, testing them, and finally, in the scope of this project, resolving those into a definitive design.
The completion of this project allows for the designer to reflect and give an opportunity to learn from the process; what to repeat, what to avoid, and what to try next in future comprehensive design challenges.