Final Outcome and Reflections

Building the Prototype

April 27th - April 30th, 2017:

Photos of Physical Prototype

Takeaways and Outlook

Comments on what you have learned from the design process and fabrication of the prototype. What refinements would you make if you were to make a new iteration of the design? What challenges do you envisage with scaling up to manufacturing for your envisaged market size?

Challenges:

• We would have to modify the desk to suit left-handed users. We would implement modularity to the writing surface and component surfaces, as well as centralize the pivot connection on the rotation surface. After these steps are addressed, the desk would be ideal for all users.
• Manufacturing costs must also be considered as an obstacle towards scalability.
• The propping angled portion has potential to catch fingers between the table top and notch. A possible solution would be to include a stopper into the mechanism which allows limited motion and only levels of movement one notch at a time. In the future, we also plan on having some pneumatic mechanism to prevent the inclined surface from falling too quickly.
• To prop the frame and angled portion upward, the user would have to go the edge of the table and pull from a slot. if this edge was put against a wall or some sort of block, then this might compromise the ability to prop the frame upward.
• A large amount of people suggested to add motors to make the height adjustable, if we added a motor, it would be a challenge to keep cost and weight down for our primary audience. It could be possible to have a low-cost and high-cost model of desk.

Lessons:

• One of the lessons I learned is that it helps to keep materials and manufacturing processes in mind when initially designing a product. This can help reduce cost by not designing something that only an expensive alloy or manufacturing process can accomplish. It also helped a lot to have a clear hierarchy of parameters, in our case, it was important for our desk first to be safe, then affordable, and finally lightweight. - William Chiasson
• It was important to keep in mind how individual components would interact with each other. Often, we would realize that additional components would be necessary to perform functions or achieve assembly. These considerations affected material choices and costs. - Kenny Zhen
• Clear communication is necessary to any group project, but especially one about design and manufacturing. Using detailed drawings and accurate models, we were able to remain on the same page and work effectively to achieve common goals. - Kenny Zhen
• Exact fits are critical and GD&T is a way to narrow down tolerance ranges. In assembling the prototype, the rotational insert for the angled portion connecting the two particleboards had problems with locking in because there was too much wiggle room and unnecessary clearance. -Alvin Tan
• Designing for manufacturing is an art, and the best ideas came from our regular group brainstorming sessions when we all bounced ideas off each other. It was helpful to envision the desk from each person's unique perspective and have a conversation about which features would work well and which would not. -Emily Stednitz
• Efficiency, efficiency, and efficiency. Developing any product takes a lot of time and thought, and bringing it out into market makes cost a very important factor in your design. Beyond the technicalities, working with a good team, completing individual responsibilities promptly, and meeting regularly can define the success of a project regardless of your previous experience or expertise. -Jocelyn Kim