Testing and Evaluation

Measuring Success

-Storage ability, module synergy, customizability

-Ignoring manufacturability and aesthetics for now

Focusing on customer needs

-What do they store?

-Office supplies, household/personal items, makeup supplies, tools, art supplies, jewelry

-What are their restrictions?

-Small or oddly shaped desks

-Can't commit to large, expensive system

Methodology

-3mm cardboard

-Same thickness as intended material

Cut and assembled in the same way as the final product

Cardboard Alpha Prototypes

The modules can be used independently, easing the customer into the Modular Desk Organizer System.

Overall, the alpha prototype stage was successful in assessing the modularity and storage capability of the Modular Desk Organizer system. Most customer needs were met, with the possibility of expanding the space with the larger modules. The modules fit together as expected and could be rearranged to fit different spaces and needs.

Laser Cut Alpha Prototypes

The connection system represented by each design was produced using small scale alpha prototypes. These test boxes were not scale replicas of the original models, however they were small boxes that were representative of the true models. The team used an online laser cut box design maker called MakerCase in order to produce default boxes designs in DXG format. These were edited in AutoCAD for each of the different designs. These simplified redesigns allowed the team to gain insight into the functionality of the connection system while also being cheaper and quicker to produce for testing.

Offset Alpha Prototypes

This concept relies on the idea of offsetting the panels in just a way that certain panels have a “strip” of material that sticks out. The recessed and the protruding sections on one module would match with the protruding and recessed sections of another module respectively. This concept was designed to minimize assembly and production time while still maintaining the use of linings. These concepts only required the use of laser cutting to produce the panels.

To test the stability of the Offset Designs, modules were stacked in different orientations to simulate the final product. The testing revealed that the modules were prone to falling off in specific directions, which suggested that the design may not provide as secure of a connection as the other designs. These were produced with 3mm sheets of wood. However, the quality of the wood was not as expected as the team received low density balsa wood and not balsa plywood. These were easily damaged, scratched, and broken.

2-Layer Alpha Prototypes

Another solution was using two panels and joining them together to replicate the effect of a depth cut. One of the panels would just be shortened by a certain amount so that the top of it would serve as the lip lining. This would require more time to assemble but is a viable option to stick as close to the original phase 2 design concepts as possible.

To test the assembly of the Two Layer Designs, two separate layers with different designs were manually glued together to form the lining module. The testing revealed that the walls of the modules were tight fits when attempting to stack them on top of each other. However, this was inconsistent. Overall, the tolerances of two separate sheets being attached to each other to form a panel and then attached to other panels, created lots of gaps and dimensional inaccuracies. These errors further compounded with each other making so that the connections between modules did not fit as intended. The quality of the wood was generally good as it was strong balsa plywood but it was prone to being a bit warped which would have affected the tolerances as well. However, the design provided a sleek look and closely resembled the original design concepts.

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