Brainstorming
These are sketches of possible pieces to be used in my puzzle cube. 5 of these sketches were the ones I used and are circled in the picture above.
This is a power point of my puzzle cube flip book used to show each level of my cube and how it "works".
Statistics
The Design Process:
Define a Problem
Generate Concepts
These are pieces of a 3x3 cube that I could have possibly used in my puzzle cube.
Develop a Solution
This is a power point showing the different pieces I chose to be part of my puzzle cube. There are separated isometric and multi-view sketches of each piece and a complete isometric view of the cube.
Construct and Test Prototype
Evaluate a Solution
When I look at my data I see that no one solved my Puzzle Cube, meaning my cube was difficult to solve. The higher the difficulty would probably result in more profit for the furniture company because you would not get bored with it instantly. My cube puts up a challenge and makes the customer more satisfied with the product. My cube is both good for the customer and for the company. My cube also fits all the constraints while solving the problem efficiently.
Conclusion
- The design process are steps that are taken to create something. These steps include define a problem, generate concepts, develop a solution, construct and test prototype, evaluate a solution, and present solution. Defining a problem is addressing a problem and giving criteria for the solution. Generating concepts is brainstorming different ideas on how to solve the problem using the criteria. Developing a solution is choosing which idea works the best as the solution and constructing and testing a prototype is building a model of the chosen solution and seeing how well it works as a solution to the problem. Evaluating a solution is examining your data from tests and determining if it is the best possible solution to your problem. Presenting a solution is showing your solution to the public.
- Making a model is important because it allows the inventor to see how well the solution works with testing so that changes could be made to improve the solution if it does not meet the inventors criteria, before final prototypes are made and money is spent. Inventor is a good way to test these models.
- Inventor was a fairly simple program that did not cause me major issues. It was slightly confusing when I would forget what steps were taken to create a certain part of my project but other than that it was easy to use and very useful.
- To combine the separate parts of my puzzle cube on Inventor without allowing them to move I had to place constraints on the different pieces like flushing two different sides and mating to different sides. When I did this I made sure they had no degrees of freedom, flushing two sides so that they could not move up or down took away a degree of freedom. Another way degrees of freedom are taken is when two sides are mated causing the freedom to move from side to side to be taken away. Combining flushing and mating takes away all degrees of freedom whe placed on the right parts.
- When some one says "I used the design process to solve the problem at hand" they mean they used the steps listed above to create a solution for the problem that is being faced. In the design brief for the puzzle cube there was a problem that a furniture company wants to save money by using scraps in some way and I created a solution by following each step which led to the best possible solution.
- Changes that I could have made to my solution would include making more 3 dimensional pieces to increase the difficulty of the cube. Overall I am pleased with my solution and feel like it solves the problem in a creative and entertaining way.