Weekly Assignment 6

For this activity you will work with a partner.

Start by choosing a toy and document how it works in your blog. Make sure you document well how it moves and which parts are involved in this movement. For this, try to decipher the mechanism of the toy and draw sketches to explain.

Take apart the toy completely, investigate its various parts, how it was built (was it sustainable), how components are connected together, and what each one does. Label and document all the parts and explain how the mechanism really works and what is the purpose of each part.

Finally, suggest at least 3 design improvements and write a reflection about your experience and what you learned.

How it works: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FBWawqL3DWUENU6U9a-6rnlRlx9WczNe/view?usp=sharing

This is a Kapibara toy. It has a pull ring on top, which is connected to a string. When you pull the ring, the string retracts, and Kapibara’s wings move and produce some mechanical sounds. The string and the wings are involved in the movement.

We think that the string is connected to a machine that moves rapidly when the string is pulled. Inside this machine, several gears likely work together. To make the wings move, the machine should be linked to the wings in a way that enables synchronized motion, as shown in the sketch.

Gears

The toy features a wind-up mechanism containing three gears. When the string is pulled, it activates a thick gear, which in turn drives a larger, thinner gear beneath it. This thinner gear then transfers motion to the smallest adjacent gear, causing it to spin rapidly. The smallest gear drives a plastic piece, which is interlocked with the wings. As the string is pulled, the plastic piece moves, causing the wings of Kapibara to flap.

Wings

Two white plastic pieces are securely attached to both sides of the body. The wings, together with these plastic pieces, form a small mechanical system. A round, elongated rod beneath the wings keeps them fixed within this system, allowing only up-and-down movement. This design prevents the wings from moving freely or detaching.

Plastic plate

The core part of the toy is likely this plastic plate that drives the movement of both wings. It is a rectangular shape with a hole in the center. This hole connects to a movable gear in the spring mechanism. When the gear is pulled into motion, the plastic plate moves along with it. The "rod" at the top of the plastic plate is connected to the wings. This setup likely utilizes the lever principle—when the plastic plate moves up and down, the wings on the other side follow the same movement.

Suggestions:

Integrate a small sound module or LED lights that activate when the wings flap. A gentle chirping sound or a soft glow could make the toy more appealing and simulate a more lifelike effect, enhancing the cat’s engagement.
The material of the string could be changed to make pulling it smoother.
Add a base to the toy or increase the weight at the bottom to make it more stable when placed still.

Reflection:

Through this exploration, I gained valuable insights into how simple mechanical toys function. By closely examining the movement of the toy, I was able to break down its mechanism into key components. This process deepened my understanding of how small mechanical parts interact to create movement. Although this seems like a simple toy, it contains many parts. They interact with each other and function together. The design of the parts is also interesting, such as the uniquely shaped plastic plate.

Additionally, reflecting on possible improvements encouraged me to think from a design perspective. I considered not just functionality but also user experience. This made me appreciate how even small design choices can enhance a toy’s appeal and usability.

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