Cable Box Cover Project

In this project, my group (Arius and me) was tasked with creating a box to cover the network box in the computer science room that ideally had another functionality. 

1) Guidelines

There were certain rules and guidelines that we had to follow throughout the project, those being:

• Communicate with Ms. Tran on the project.

• Create a solution that effectively covers the network box with another usage. For instance, an under shelf for books, or a knobs to hang things. 

• Update your portfolio from time to time, documenting your journey.

2) Brainstorming

Even the most successful projects had to start from brainstorming! In this project, we started our brainstorming process with looking up pictures from the internet, like these: 

Most of our pictures followed a sort of minimalist theme, and that proved to be part of our inspiration for our design. 

After forming a basic design for our project, we made it clear what our own requirements for the project were. We wanted:

• A door opening to the panel, both on the top and the bottom

• If possible, an under shelf 

3) Procedure

Before doing any designing, it was essential that we took measurements of the Network Box first. We took our measurments, and after comparing with a few other groups on the same project, adjusted it. Our measurements were (21.5 in by 6.95in by 7.5 in)

Both of us opened up our Fusion 360 application and began designing the box. While we both had the same big idea, we still experimented with certain mechanisms on our own devices. For instance, Arius experimented with a hinging mechanism for the door, while I experimented with a sliding door. This proved to be handy in the long run, as I made my model as a fully combined one, whereas Arius made his with separate pieces. It was handy, as at the end, we were able to print out Arius's pieces while comparing it to my model, in a way.

I started out with designing the entire box, which was simply a rectangle shape without an inside. I used the line tool, as well as the offset tool in order to make it. I then extruded it by about 6.95in. In order to create a railing, I created a short L shape, again with the line tool, and extended it about 20 inches. Then, I rotated it 90° and attached it to the top edge of the rectangle. I then replicated it and attatched it to the bottom edge of the rectangle. 

In order to create the door, I simply created a rectangle using the rectangle tool with a height slightly less that the distance between the two railings.

 It was only at this point that it came to our realization the elements in our design were to be 3D printed. 

Reiteration no. 1 - Thankfully, because of Arius's experimentations, we had the rectangle in separate pieces with the exact dimensions that we needed!

To create the handle for the door, I used the line tool to create a small handle. For the railings, I followed the same method, creating separate rectangles. Those rectangles, once they are laser cut, could be attached together to create the railing. 

After laser cutting our first two elements (the bottom piece and the right side), we encountered another problem. On the left side of the box a coil of wire interrupted the board, meaning we couldn't mount the bottom.

Reiteration no. 2 - In order to deal with the issue, I cut out segments of the cardboard so that it could fit. After measuring the distance from the left side to the start of the cut and the length of the cut, I redesigned the element in Fusion 360, using the line tool. After printing (this time in proper wood), I tested it out, and it worked! Now we had two elements: the bottom and the right side. But, we couldn't duplicate the right side piece, as it interuppted wire on the left side.

Reiteration no. 3 - To deal with this, I made a cut in the design so that it would avoid the wires. But, the cut wasn't big enough and still faced resistance. To fix this, the best solution was to extend the cut and redesign the right using the line tool.

Reiteration no. 4 - To deal with this issue, we simply extended the cut by 1 inch, and it worked. There was some resistance with the wires, but if we mount it it shouldn't be any problem. 

Reiteration no. 5 - We didn't have any problem, but this time we wanted to make it such that we can get access to the top of the cable box. We simply made a rectangle and used the offset tool so that if we laser printed it we would get a rectangle with a hole. Then, we wanted to make a design for the door

Reiteration no. 6 - The design was basically a cable cartoon picture that we used sketch tools, such as spline, line, and arc, to make. At the same time, we also made a squares to mount the pieces on. However, we couldn't print the picture because of time constraints.

The design, excluding the door. It is taped up and saggy, but we as the project is to make a prototype, when Ms. Tran cleans up the design, it will be hot glued, fully screwed in, etc. Again, because of time constraints, we couldn't add an undershelf.

4) Reflection

Soul Reflection:

S - I think that, in the end, our work was pretty good, with a solid design. However, if we worked more efficiently, I think that we could have an even bigger, more useful product. 

O - Again, I think that productivity was a big factor that affected our work. While we did work throughout class time, I think that our communication with Ms. Tran about the building material affected our performance. If we knew that we would laser cut everything, we could have made everything separately from the start and made different things on our own. I also think that we should have spent more brainstorming and research time so that we wouldn't have to make so many changes.

U - In this project, we learned how to utilize Fusion 360 in order to create a well functioning design. I think that we did a pretty good job utilizing the tools that we learned how to use in class.

L - I think that of all the limitations that we had, time was the biggest issue. One day went into helping the Mooncake Mold group, and our productivity could also have been better. I think that these were our biggest limitations.

WISCR Reflection: 

I think that we hit the W (Well rounded), I (Insightful and critical thinkers), S (Self motivated), and R (Respectful individuals of character). This is because we had to implent not only our Fusion 360 skills, but also our creativity and artistic skill. We had to think critically of the design's functions and how it was to be made. At the same time, with our limiations, we had to stay self motivated and keep on going, despite blocks. I don't think that we hit the C (Clear communicators) of WISCR because we should have communicated the way we were to build the project with Ms. Tran at the beginning. Finally, we got R because we had to be kind to each other to work as a team and accept each other's ideas.