brio | brÄ“Ĺ? | noun
vigor or vivacity of style or performance
The angle grinder that refines the idea of control, with the home user in mind.
Problems in the Marketplace 1
Guard Adjustment
1
2
The guard is seen as intrusive and is generally removed from the tool. Users remove it, which leads to serious injury in the event of cut-off wheel failure.
Wheel Change
2
Switching between disks is a common back and forth for the home user. Home users often lose the specialized tools provided with the grinder that are needed to change the abrasive wheels.
3
Maintenance
3
Angle grinders prioritize motor brush replacement even though bearings were the first to fail in tools in the field. Most people will replace the tool.
Solutions for the Home User 1
3
Guard Adjustment
1
Brio offers the ability to change the unobtrusive nature of the guard. It is able to slide easily with the trigger release and offers greater visibility to the work piece.
2
Wheel Change
2
Brio offers the ability to change the abrasive wheels without the use of a tool. This allows for a more convenient and fast swap of the wheels when switching between grinding and cutting.
Maintenance
3
Brio offers the ability to change the bearings that experience the most wear. User’s tools commonly had worn bearings before worn brushes.
Use Scenarios
Grinding
Brio eliminates the need for a removable handle by giving the user two interface points. The motor housing acts as the secondary handle interface in order to increase control while eliminating the need for extra parts. Brio accepts standard abrasive or cutting wheels that are 4.5 inches in diameter.
Guard Adjustment
The guard of Brio eliminates the need for removal. This keeps the users safe and allows them to quickly switch between a grinding operation to a cutting operation, which is a common operation for a home user. The guard is a necessary safety feature, and helps to direct debris away from the users.
IND 361: Spring 2018 Industrial Design IV
Cutting
The body of Brio is used as the handle for cutting. The tool is able to hold a variable speed when releasing the trigger. An angle grinder is used for cutting circular holes in tiles for plumbing. Brio has greater visibility for cutting, and increases safety by keeping the guard attached.
Student: Luke Ayala Instructors: Donald Herring, James Reeves