Where the Product is now:
Pottery wheel:
Fig 1
- The pottery wheel is in the first draft stage because I was unable to get access to 3D printing till 6 days before the deadline. The concept works and shows promise, and the shape is right, it just needs a few tweaks and a couple more revisions.
- The Adjustable Ratchet mechanism allows for the drill speed to be changed and it works round my drill.
- The connectors are strong and durable and support the force of the wheel. They also made it incredibly easy to assemble because all the screw holes were already lined up.
Website:
Fig 2 (Top) Fig 3 (Bottom) Fig 4 Fig 5
Fig 6 (Top) Fig 7 (Bottom) Fig 8 (Top) Fig 9 (Bottom)
- All areas of the website are done and just need the creation of more machines and and parts. (Fig 4)
- There are community sections and places to host craft workshop that are ready for when new people make and use the machines. (Fig 3 and 6)
- There is a google form for the upload of new parts. (Fig 7)
- Users can download the parts up there to 3D print at home.
- The website is built off a CMS meaning that it can be easily added to and is fit for purpose adding new parts and machines. (Fig 8 and 9)
What I want to do in the future:
Pottery Wheel:
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I want to make the top the wheel slightly wider to allow for a bigger gap between the wheel itself and the rim.
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I want to experiment more with materials for the top of the wheel because I had to use the top of a cake stand to show a wheel and it was a bit wobbly. This was because of the last minute creation of the model because I didn’t have access to 3D printing until the end of the project.
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Lower the top of the wheel to the brim to allow for more of angle to support your forearms as well as increasing the height of the wheel so you don’t have to lean over as much.
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Print and test the U joint because I was unable to print this and use it in the pottery wheel because it would have been the mechanism needed for the pottery wheel rather than the adjustable ratchet.
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The adjustable ratchet needs some tweaks on the tolerances to make it work perfectly straight from the 3D printer.
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I thought the adjustable ratchet needed 2 sides but one is strong enough so I can work on adjusting to mechanism to have one knob.
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Use 34 by 34 wood because I couldn’t get hold of 34 by 34 because it had sold out in my local B&Q and had to use 32 by 32. This meant there was a big gap between the wood and the connectors causing the wood to snap a little.
- Consider the drainage of the water wheel using the wheel, and see if it affects the drill.
Website
- Sort out a way for people to buy the parts or show where people can print them for people that don’t have access to a 3D printer.
Project as a whole
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After the changes to the wheel, work on the design of a pillar drill as the next machine because it will be the most simple to create.
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Experiment with other drills to see if the mechanism works round different brands and not just mine.
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Print off loads of connectors and run a brain storming session with fellow designers to come up with shapes and new machine designs.
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Run a workshop with multiple wheels to test user feed back and see if it runs successfully.
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Give the parts and wood to a person that has no idea about my product and see if they are able to construct it and use it using the instructions.
