NIS Cohort 2 Totem
The team was tasked with creating a representative item for a our scholarship cohort. The deliverables included personalized maze ball puzzles (tilt puzzles) for each program member, which were presented to the cohort. This project focused on designing and manufacturing individualized totems that symbolized the scholarship journey while fostering a sense of unity. We chose to create these interactive puzzles, where users tilt the device to guide a ball through a maze until it reaches a designated hole.
Individual Contribution: The CAD model, and manufacturing of each totem
CAD
The CAD aspect of this project, while relatively straightforward, marked my initial foray into 3D modeling. The design primarily involved basic extrusions and rounds. The most significant challenge I encountered was ensuring precise alignment between the ball's trajectory path and its final destination hole. This task became increasingly complex when a colleague proposed incorporating a personalized path for the ball. Integrating this custom route while maintaining the necessary functional constraints proved challenging, yet it ultimately enhanced both the aesthetic appeal and practical functionality of our totem.
Manufacturing
The outcome of this project exceeded expectations, garnering interest from the scholarship program director who requested we produce one totem for each program member. To assess the feasibility of manufacturing over 50 units, we conducted a weekend session at an on-campus makerspace, evaluating potential materials and production methods.
We ultimately utilized laser cutting technology for all components, ensuring precision and consistency throughout the manufacturing process. A significant challenge we encountered was the presence of burn marks on certain wood and resin pieces during cutting. To mitigate this issue, we developed a technique of applying tape to areas prone to burning, resulting in consistently clean cuts. The assembly process was executed in a production line manner, with each layer manually secured using screws. This approach allowed us to efficiently complete the project, producing a series of high-quality, personalized desk accessories that effectively represented our scholarship cohort.
