Making blog
While printing the replacement solar panels, Steve is also printing the Picker Upper Hands that will gather trash. The hands are printed out of a clear material and are then cured.
3D part printing is underway!
Designer Steve Elliott created a part print schedule to keep the project on track, however, things don't always go as planned. A component of the solar panel, which took several hours to print, didn't turn out quite as expected and has to be re-printed. It's important to always build in project time for situations just like this. A re-load of the program and material and the Picker Upper Monster will be back on track!
The Picker Upper Monster is coming to life! Eye details are being refined, 3D parts are taking shape and printing has begun!
Emma has our imaginations on overdrive! We are beginning prototypes of scale designs and underwater sea life brought to "life" through recycled plastic bottles.
Now that Charlotte and Steve have dialed in design elements Steve is beginning to create CAD models using Solidworks to bring Charlotte's Design to life!
Steve Elliott held a virtual design review meeting with Charlotte, inventor of the Picker Upper Monster. During the meeting they talked through different features Charlotte envisioned, including placement of the trash bin, and placement of the "eyes" of the monster and overall shape of the monster.
Steve began sketching out ideas and picking a color palette for the Picker Upper Monster based on our first conversation with Charlotte. He will have a series of sketches ready to review for our next meeting with Charlotte where we will zero in on details of the monster! It's looking like kind of a cute monster don't you think?
Last Friday we got to meet our inventor, Charlotte, and her teacher Ms. Bloomhuff and it was really exciting because Charlotte didn't know her idea had been selected until this call! She described her invention and Steve reviewed some of the features she put into the design and also showed her a mock up of device he worked on that is in production now. They discussed different materials that can be used to create a mock up and what might be possible for the Picker Upper Monster.
Many cities would benefit greatly by having a fleet of these scooting around picking up litter! Great Invention
Well, to be honest I've been waiting for this to hit the markets so I don't have to make lunch anymore. Sign me up as your 1st customer Daryl! I had so much fun designing the prototype!
I've created a LoFi and HiFi prototype for The Cleaner. I enjoyed working on this project so much. I even imagined driving it under the sea. It would probably be one of the best experiences of my life.
Hayden was really surprised with the final design of her Flamingo Mobile!
Hayden's vision of the Flamingo Mobile comes to life!
Congratulations to Hayden and we can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Design is complete, the digital model is done and rendered and off to the 3D printer to bring to life. A poster is made to help describe the Weather Box and all its features.
The Flamingo Mobile is nearly ready to be deployed and details are coming together for the mobile debut!
Now that the team has finished 3D printing components to the Flamingo Mobile it is time to start painting! By combining different shades of pink spray paint they have come up with a perfect "Flamingo Pink" color.
The design team began working on painting components and assembling parts of the mobile. 3D printed parts are first washed in a "bath" of isopropyl alcohol and then cured with light. The Flamingo Mobile is nearly ready for flight!
Flamingos are actually grey when they are born. Adult Flamingo feathers are different shades of pink from beta carotenes in their diet. The red orange pigment is found in high amounts in the food Flamingos eat, which include algae, brine shrimp and brine fly larvae .
Selecting just the right shade of pink for the Flamingo Mobile involves sampling different paint colors and custom blending them to create just the right pink!
Creating the actual model for the Flamingo Mobile is a multi step process. The team began 3D printing components, each part can take several hours to print and even days!
Well, with the 3D printing done, we've assembled the individual pieces. We also put in a little bit of elbow grease, sanding and smoothing the surface across the joints and the helmet as a whole. Next on the agenda is adding accessories and then painting!