Sketched out at least 10 designs. Some things I was toying with were both forms that were skinny and curvy and objects that meant something to me
Eventually I decided on the logo in the top right. I thought it was condensed, elegant and unique enough for a project.
Between the process of sketching and rapid prototyping I decided I wanted to make a stamp. I didn't know how I was going to make a stamp though because it involved a lot of moving parts. I had a few different designs. On the bottom left image, you can see that I had to learn how to make round objects from wood using a drill press. I also had to learn about how to fasten the prototypes. I used a wooden dowel with wood glue and clamped the prototypes together
Originally, I liked the 3rd prototype but when consulting with my group, the consensus was that the first one felt the best.
The issue of fastening haunted me - I originally wanted to print out a more rigid polymer and print out a screw because I knew I wanted to logo to be detachable. I received advice from Beck to use a flexible polymer instead because of the function of the stamp. Lee suggested that I should look into using magnets as a connection.
I'm very familiar with illustrator so taking the sketch to the design wasn't too hard
Taking the illustrator to solidworks was a whole 'nother beast, however. I didn't realize that all of my lines in illustrator would translate into impossible to dimension splines. Toggling the sizing took a while.
I was determined to have a turned handle so I learned the wood lathe. Using it for the first time was fun and informative.
I had printed my logo first, so after I turned my handles I had to then figure out a way to create a small cut face. I wanted to do that to secure the connection and give the handle a bit of overhang. I drilled a hole into the face to fit the magnets. Additionally, because it was my first time turning the wood the handles were not totally straight until after sanding.
In order to connect the magnet to the the stamp head, I printed the hole about 4 mm too small so that it would form fit. Additionally, I used epoxy within the wood and rubber to fasten the magnets
After testing the stamp head with the the handle, I realized that the handle face still was a bit too small so I took a dremel to it to widen it.
Finally, in transport, I got a few dings on the handles, so I finished it with a lot of sanding and beeswax.
If I were to do this project again, I would turn the handle first as well as measure how deep the holes for the magnets were in the handles so I didn't have to use 3 O.O. Turning the handle first would allow for me to use calipers to print the head to the exact size so I wouldn't have to use the dremel and sand as much.
Additionally, I would use a different finishing product than beeswax - I wasn't too excited about that.
Finally, I had some issues with the epoxy. What was supposed to set within 3-5 minutes did not, and the magnets pulled out. I had to use new epoxy. I would let it set for at minimum 24 hours before testing the connections.