Description of Project:
In this project, I prototyped, designed, CADed, and 3D printed a COVID-19 safety device. I had seen many contact safety devices with a very similar design. I wanted to create my own version of the safety tool.
Purpose of Project:
The purpose of this project was to put more content out there on COVID-19 safety devices that people can easily make if they have access to a 3D printer. I also simply wanted to work on a CAD and 3D printing project. Another small reason for this project was to upload more CAD files to my Myminifactory and Thingaverse accounts. I had definitely accomplished the purpose of this project although I think the device is pretty useless for real world common use. I don’t think this is due to my design, I think it is due to the nature of the product and the fact that people are lazy.
Challenges:
I’d say that the hardest thing with this mini project was defining critical dimensions. By critical dimensions I mean the length of the tool, the size of the finger hole, etc. Besides that, it was a pretty relaxed project.
My process:
The aspects that are applicable to my process are the way I developed the design I came up with, I had seen other designs of this same device and I thought that they needed to be more ergonomic. I had that very idea in mind when I was prototyping. My prototyping was the following: I sketched out profiled of the shape and cut them out of cardboard. I then stacked a couple of those cutouts out and tested it out. It was here were I decided on critical dimensions. I then sketched similar profiles out using CAD software (Onshape) and and extruded those profiles. I then used fillets to align with the idea of making the design more ergonomic. Once I had the file, I sliced it on slicer software (Cure) and ran the print on my 3D printer. To finish it off, I tied a cord through it with the intent to put it on a keychain.
