Music Stand

Project Description:

For our final project/assessment this semester, we were required to work on an open-ended project and to apply what we have learned to solve a real-life problem that we have in our life using Fusion 360, 3D printing, and laser-cutting.

Requirements

Choose one problem you or anyone in your family is facing, design your solution in Fusion 360, and create a prototype using the 3D printer and/or laser cutter.

Brainstorming:

Immediately after receiving this project I thought about a problem that was causing a huge inconvenience in my life: Music Stands. The reason why this is a problem is because I am a percussionist and read sheet music, and since I have two marimbas in different locations, each time my family goes to the other location to visit friends and family, it is a big inconvenience to bring a big music stand all the time. So, my solution to fix it was to make a music stand that can clamp onto the frontal bar of the marimba(An instrument I play). But even before I started designing it, several issues came into mind. The first was that in order to not make contact with the actual part of the instrument that produces the sound, I needed a small rectangular horizontal platform from the marimba clamp to the music stand. This causes many weight distribution problems. To counter this I thought of adding several triangular braces that I took inspiration from bridges and also four u-clamps in an attempt to make my clamp as sturdy as I can. Also to make sure that it can fit on both marimbas, I came up with two sliding parts to make it flexible. (Top to bottom: problem, clamp, triangle brace)

Procedure:

The first step was to take measurements of the marimba to help me get an idea of the amount of space I am working with, which was actually larger than I expected. With all the measurements done and the design drawn clear on paper, I started to use Fusion360. I knew that since semester one was almost over, I had very little time to design and laser cut my project. So I had to make as little mistakes as possible and be as cautious as possible while working as fast as possible. So, as soon as I got the chance after 3d designing it, confirming that the law of physics would allow it, and that the measurements was correct, I went to lasercut. Luckily, most of the parts of my project was fairly small in size so the process didn't take that long. I then used wood glue and hot glue as well as bolts to assemble my project. (Measurements on the right)

FUSION

PROTOTYPE

With the first prototype ready, and the deadline due in two days, I hoped that it could work on the first try. But several problems already rose as I tested it. first, I got a measeurements wrong while designing, which meant the clamp won't be able to slide in place. The second problem was the clamp wasn't quite working as I hoped it would be as it just won't be tight enough. Third, while going to the other location to try on my clamp, some parts of the clamp broke off and I didn't bring my wood glue with me. To make matters worse, I was extremely busy that day and the next day after that, so I had to fix them quickly:

Solution to the first problem(Measurements were wrong): I disassembled my clamp with ease and started to use a handsaw to start sawing precise cuts into the clamp so that it was the correct size.
Solution to the second problem(Clamp not working as it should): I put a small hook at the ends of the clamp made of cardboard to help support the clamps with a small wooden bar.
Solution to the third problem(No wood glue) I luckily had hot glue, though it wasn't the best glue for this project. But since time was running out I had to do it.

With that the second prototype was finished and it worked NOT pefectly, but good enough so that I can securely put it on my marimba and still play my music for concerts.

PROBLEM

SOLUTION

Reflection-SOUL

S- Strength: I think one strength in my project was how I designed my project and how to solve the problem of weight destribution as well as Improvising solutions that actually worked when I ran out of time.
O-Opportunities to improve: I think one thing I should've done better was my time management since even though i got my design done on time, I underestimated how long it would take to lasercut all the peices as well as how long it would've taken to assemble everything. If I better managed my time I think I would've done much more revisions on my prototype.
U-Understanding: Though I didn't really learn that much new tools while doing this project, I did learn how to use the lasercutting machine as well how to use the thread tool to make a bolt that was completely unessecary. I also learned a bit of center of mass of objects to design my project.
L-Limitations: Some limitations I encountered while doing this project was time, since time was my main enemy. We had only a couple days to actually start assembling our projects and that was very difficult to do everything on time.
WISCR. the I-Insightful and critical thinkers- as well as the S- Self-Motivated Leaders - really stood out in my project as I had to be a critical thinker and use my brain to figure out ways to get over challenges such as weight distribution. One challenge that I think I successfully got over was the way I distributed the weight, since even though the clamps needed support with my improvised hook, without the hook, the music stand still clamped on perfectly onto the bar. For the S, I had to be self-motivated for the constant stress that I had due to the time and due date.

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