BRIEF
As product designer, we are constantly reengineering the existing world around us. For this project we were required to upscale an injection molded plastic shell of an electrical product. T hen to reconstruct it from sheet ABS plastic.
DEVELOPMENT
T he reconstruction process included drawing up a detailed engineering drawing of the product with all the measurements needed for reconstruction. T hen to identify the major forms of the design and construct that out of MDF for vacuum forming. In this shell, I then started to reconstruct the smaller components of the product.
T he final steps was a layer of primer paint to prepare the surface for the bright orange spray paint.
RECONSTRUCTING AN
DESIGN RATIONAL
I choose to vacuum form the shell because of the complexity of the curves.
T hen I was able to compare it to my teammate’s reconstruction of their shell.
T hereby determining where the bosses and other features would be positions to ensure the internal components would alight. T he original product had a satin textured finish, and I achieved to replicate this by spraying from a further distance allowing the droplets to form before touching the surface of the product.
T he part’s complexity allowed several techniques to be utilised in the construction of it. Such as the vacuum forming for the shells and 3D printing for the bosses. Despite the complexity, I was able to keep the measurements in scale to the original design. I was also able to improve the design by reinforcing the rib on which the scale’s weighing bar connects to the shell body. T his will prevent future product failure.
