Daming Gao
Engineering Design Portfolio
2013/9
Purpose: Disassemble and Critique an Electromechanical Device
My First Design Activity
Basic Information:
- A brand-new Revlon RV544PKF 1875W Hairdryer (Figure 1)
- Two heat and speed adjustments
- Cold shot button
- Ion indicator light
Additional Features:
- Ion emission
- Ceramic heating element (resistors are embedded in ceramic)
- Hinged end cap (but not removable)
- Air concentrator
- Volumizing finger diffuser
Design For:
Safety:
- Polarized plug + plastic cover for protection
- Fuse (Figure 2) and thermostat
- Hanger and some inner design
- Frame and enclosure: robust structure, can withstand great forces if the product drops to the ground (Figure 3)
- Double layer "cardboard" structure (Figure 4): isolates heating element from plastic cover, which has relatively low melting point
Usability:
Parts failed to achieve usability:
- Plastic bumper/handle (thin and slippery)
- Bad position of speed and heat adjustment buttons (located at the handle part, can be easily switched on or off even we are not intend to do so) (Figure 5)
- Hinged end cap is not removable, thus dust accumulates as we are not able to clean it completely.
Assembly:
- Only three simple modules (Figure 6): cover, inner circuits and handle -> easy to assemble
- Only two parts needs screw fasteners
Figure 1: RV544PKF 1875W Hairdryer
Figure 3: Robust inner structure
Figure 4: Double layer "cardboard" Structure
Figure 2: Fuse and heating element
Figure 5: Bad position of buttons
Figure 6: Three simpe modules--easy to assemble
2013/11
Purpose: Demonstrate the Evolution of Our Ideas
Lotion Pump Redesign Project
Figure 1
The picture on the left shows the most representative designs during the initial brainstorming stage. Although none of them was selected as our final design, three important feature were preserved, adopted and integrated in our later designs:
Syringe suction mechanism: creates vacuum;
Rubber: acts as an airtight seal, or allows free movement of device due to its elastic property;
Up-side-down bottle: uses gravity so the lotion flows down naturally.
Left Middle Right
Figure 2:
Three designs used in conceptual design report. Features from preliminary designs are noticeable:
"Rubber ball" (Left, component [3]);
Syringe suction mechanism (Middle);
Up-side-down bottle (Right): slight modification was made
For detailed descriptions, please refer to the Conceptual Design Report, page 3~7.
Left Right
Figure 3:
Left: Selected design on Conceptual Stage. According to the feedback from teaching team, this design cannot maintain its structural stability when soaps or lotions are stored in the barrel.
Right: Improved design (with flanges including circular holes adding to it)
The holes enable the syringe to be hung on the bathroom hangers.
Note: These drawings (Figure 1 to 3) are regarded as low-fidelity, non-functional prototypes served for communication purpose.They convey ideas clearly and efficiently and allow modifications without taking too much effort.