Week 3 - Journal

For this week's assignment, I decided to design an office organizer that combines practicality, creativity, and a touch of inspiration. As someone who loves journaling, thinking, planning and painting, I wanted to create a design that reflects my personal passions while serving as a functional piece for my desk.

The idea was inspired by my daily needs & the little things that bring me joy. I wanted my organizer to include:

• A calendar to keep track of dates and stay organized.

• A pen & pencil holder that is spacious enough to hold not just pens and pencils but also some colors that I might need while painting.

• A mobile holder to keep my phone easily accessible during work or creative sessions.

• Coasters and a coaster stand to protect my workspace from coffee spills, adding a neat and stylish touch.

• A dedicated spot for a quote or message that resonates with me personally, serving as a daily source of inspiration and positivity.

This design is personal because it’s tailored to my lifestyle, combining functionality and creativity while encouraging moments of inspiration. To shape this concept, I explored various office organizer designs and laser-cut project ideas online, focusing on modular and multi-functional setups.

The development and implementation process of my office organizer involved both 3D printing and laser cutting to fabricate the design:

1. 3D Printing:

   • I began by manufacturing the brackets needed for the assembly:

     • 90° brackets: These were printed first to ensure the connections of the shelf were stable.

     • 60° brackets: These were printed next, as they were essential for connecting the mobile holder with the base.

     • Slicing parameters were set, including a layer height of 0.2 mm, 20% infill for durability, and a print speed of 60 mm/s.

   • Both brackets were designed in Fusion 360, sliced using Ultimaker Cura and fabricated on the Prusa 3D printer.

The process required careful monitoring to ensure the brackets were dimensionally accurate for assembly.

2. Laser Cutting:

After completing the bracket fabrication, I moved on to laser cutting the wooden parts for the office organizer.

Color coding for laser cutting settings was used to differentiate between cutting & speed cutting:

• Black color: Assigned to parts requiring full cuts.

• Blue color: Used for areas requiring speed cuts, such as the calendar numbers and quote text.

I configured the Malky laser cutter with the following settings:

• Cutting: Speed = 40, Power = 55

• Speed cutting: Speed = 300, Power = 15

The parts were arranged on a 30 cm x 50 cm wooden sheet for optimal material usage:

• The first sheet was used to cut 6 parts, including the primary sides and base of the organizer.

• A second half-sheet was used to cut the remaining 4 parts, such as the partitions and additional structural components.

3. Assembly Preparation:

   • Each part was inspected for accuracy and smoothness post-cutting.

   • The T-slots, tabs, and bracket screw holes were aligned perfectly during the assembly phase, thanks to the precise cuts and measurements ensured by the laser cutter.

For this assignment, I relied heavily on feedback and guidance from my sister Nouran, as well as my instructor Yassin, both of whom provided invaluable support:

1. Feedback from My Sister, Nouran:

   • As always, Nouran was my primary source of feedback and support. She helped me refine my ideas and ensure the design met my goals. Her input was instrumental in brainstorming and improving the overall functionality of the office organizer.

   • She also assisted in validating the practicality of the design and provided suggestions to improve the aesthetic and organizational aspects.

2. Guidance from My Instructor, Yassin:

   • I reached out to my instructor, Yassin, to clarify a technical challenge related to the projections of the T-slots.

   • Initially, I was unsure whether to leave the projections as square or modify them into circular shapes. Yassin advised me to replace the square projections with circles for better fit and functionality.

He guided me on how to accurately draw the circle:

2. • • Start by drawing a line from the midpoint of two sides of the square.

     • From the midpoint of this line, draw a circle with a diameter of 3.3 mm.

This advice was crucial in ensuring that the T-slot joints would align properly during assembly.

3. Contribution to Peers:

   • While I didn’t provide direct assistance to my peers during this assignment, I was able to share my experience with modifying the T-slots and creating precise joint designs. This could serve as a reference for others who may face similar challenges.

This week, during the offline session, I worked as part of a group to design and fabricate a lantern. My specific responsibility was designing and fabricating the sides of the lantern, and I got to apply X-slots and T-slots joints for the first time. It was fascinating to learn how these joints ensure precision and stability in assembling different components. Seeing my design come to life through the laser cutter and fit perfectly with the other parts of the lantern was an incredible learning experience. 

I created a cardboard mobile holder during Monday's online session. It was a quick and fun mini-project that allowed me to practice precise measurements and cutting techniques. Despite being simple, It was fun.