Final Project: Design an Assembly

Design something that demonstrates what you learned this semester. Choose from one or more of the following for your project:

• Complex multi-part 3D printed assembly

• Multi-process object (Laser, 3D print, woodshop or hand cut chipboard - use 2 or more of these processes)

• Complex design interfacing with an existing object

• PCB interfacing with object (existing or fabricated)

Refer to the 3D printing and laser cutter policy pages on our Wiki to know how to submit files to the corresponding labs.

Final Project Schedule:

• 11/11 - Final Project Proposal Due
• 11/18 - Chipboard Prototype Due
• 12/02 - Working Session
• 12/09 - Progress Check-in
• 12/16 - Final Presentations

Project Proposal:

Produce 5 sketches of different ideas for this project. Similar to the midterm process but spend a bit more time flushing out the concepts.

Choose your favorite idea and create an inspiration board for the concept. This is like a collage of various images and thoughs on a 8.5x11 sheet of paper. You can make one physically by printing and cutting out images, or combine them using a tool like Photoshop or Google Slides. Why do you want to design this object? What could they look like? What are the components you need to design? Does your design interface with something you already own? If so, include a photo of that object. Do your research - what mechanisms or components do you not know how to design? Can you find inspiration or similar features online? If so, please include them in your proposal.

Send your proposal to me as a DM, and be sure to put a note on the sketch you want to produce for your final project.

Chipboard Prototype:

Begin mocking up the different components of your assembly in chipboard. You will learn a lot about scale, form, mechanisms, manufacturability, and more by working through your concepts in chipboard. The model should be 1:1 scale.

Send photos of your prototype to me as a DM.

Prototype Progress Check-in:

We will have a check-in together. Bring your chipboard prototype, any in-progress models you've made, sketches, etc. What are you struggling with and what is working well? What is left to work on in the next week?

Send documentation of your progress on your prototype in PDF format illustrating your process. Include your initial sketches, what steps you took so far, and what you will be working on across the next week. DM to me on Slack.

Final Presentations:

All presentations will be given in-person so prepare a Powerpoint, Keynote or Google Slides presentation of your work and send to me prior to class start.
Your presentation is to include at a minimum:

• An explanation of why you made what you made.
• Documentation of your process including sketches, photos or videos of the fabrication machines working (if applicable), and photos of your assembly.
• What challenges you had to overcome to produce your assembly.
• What you would do differently if you had more time, resources, experience, etc.
• Anything else you would like to share about your process.

DM me your presentation by the start of class on 12/16 as a PDF for full credit.