Last Form Decisions Before Adding Internal Pieces
(actual dimensions used for metarial thickness etc.)
If you display drive file according to name, I classified and ordered them
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16C9YCRemFqRlZn2Q39G88K5mCpjKyDXp?usp=sharing
- As you can see unit contains of one skeleton, water container (6,5-7 litre which can hold 2 weeks min), root container and seed units, interface, lids and internal lightning/heating componants. I tried different materials for body, I am not sure if its should metal or plastic. Also I will be happy if you checked Form Trial Post (2 post before from this one) and help me to decide.
- To summarize: water container will be seperated from internal system to not affect optimum conditions. User can reach plants both sided. And extra pieces for locking will be used. I decided to used double sided dovetail locking technique. Beside that with little indentations, units will be locked eachother to both make it more stable and allow user to lock even only two units. (I decided to connect electricity and gas via connection details yet, If user use two units only I couldnt use them, so I guess connection should be obtain from units)
- In interface as you can see, its works like a screensaver. Connected units communicate with each other and show display togather. When water supply decreased in one of them, lightning will focused user attention to there. And he can open interface, and check water level any time when he approaches. It will be activated. Other type of controllers will be obtained via phone app.
- Screen saver: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mfA4S0-d5Max3criMFP3Z-zuLcoof2UE/view?usp=sharing
- Attention: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nEZhUGHYVoLwxGvoaDXps_2Kv6xGZCcn/view?usp=sharing
- Display: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bZNsqGJSP22oAK2iAEikB8nze3ISKcu5/view?usp=sharing
My Questions:
1- I realize that the proportion of the water container is too small aestheticly according to unit and root container. But if I made it bigger, it will be hard to carry its even 6,5 7 kilos right now. I can divide water container two half, like two water container.
2-Water containers dimensions are 5x45x30 cm right now. Its not optimal to carry liquid in it, maybe the vertical usage of the water container will solve both this and above problem.
3-I know that lids are not good right now, fillets are too much and its not easy to open and access. As I decided after the critiques with Bahar Hoca, I can use seperator to divide inside of the units. For two layers for small plants like micro herbs and if user wants to plant two seperate veggies in the same unit. Maybe two sided lids, like in the concept 2 in pre-jury. Do you have any other lid suggestions?
4-I start with the number five in the Form Trial Post (which is two post before from this one, please check) to create this one. I choose number five, cause its dimensions of diagonal edges, which creates the area for connection details. Yet is it too bulky? I tried to create transparency effect. Yet do you reccomend a form from the previos post to start?
5-I choose to use dove tail tecnique for connection parts. Yet they are two dimensional as Semih Hoca mentioned. I can make a wider section on the edges, split it in a half and connect on the middle. Like a snap fastener, while still using dove tail. What do you reccommend?
Hello Esmanur
I hope you’re keeping well. Thank you for your hard work and sharing your progress in detail.
You can make your decision on two topics regarding the material: manufacturability and the target style you want to achieve. You can start by defining the codes related to what kind of environment the product will be placed. These codes will help you build your product language.
The proposal on the lock mechanism seems primitive now. The production of the part that serves to lock is uncertain. Also, it does not lock the parts entirely and only works in two dimensions. In your meeting with Bahar Hoca, the decisions you make about the lock seem more logical. You may want to continue working on the details of the lock mechanism.
Also, I did not fully understand how the lid of the product can be opened without disturbing the user. Trying to open it in its current form creates problems for the user. You will understand the problem if you calculate the area required for opening. It is useful to study different cover and opening styles.
We can follow-up with discussion during our Zoom meeting this week. I will be in touch to arrange the date/time.
Keep safe and well
Dear Instructor,
Thank you for your precious comments. I will think about the material according to subjects above. Both the issues about lid and connection detail is bother me too right now and I am working on them. I will try to solve until Zoom meeting. Also I am not satisfied with the water unit proportions due to it can be hard to carry that shape with liquid in it.
Best regards
Hello Esmanur
Thank you for the project update and links. All very thorough and detailed as we have come to expect from you. Well done!
First of all, the form of the skeleton suggests a single injection moulded plastic component, so long as there are no re-entrant features (think: easy front-back mould tool). Even the dovetail connections can be made simply in this way in the single moulded component. Metal fabrication would take too long and be too expensive. You have options such as ABS, PC to create the gloss look but structural integrity.
The interface screen saver / attention / display all are OK. But I am thinking whether you need to have these on every single product. It seems over-specified. You’re digitally integrating into an app. Isn’t it enough to have a visual representation of your ‘wall’ of products and have all the alerts come through the app? Maybe just some simple LEDs on the products to correspond to messages on the app. The issue would then be, how to make sure the app knows the placement of your products (i.e. each product needs to have an electronic identifier).
Scale? I am struggling to find any indication of the OVERALL size of your product. Is it around 30-40cm high? Please in future renders add something that will give a definite scale to the product, maybe a related everyday object in the scene. This information is needed to give better critiques on manufacturing and materials.
You mention electricity connection OK, but gas? What’s the gas for? I didn’t get it…
I will try to give direct answers to your listed questions…
Q1 / Very reasonable to divide into a left/right water container to make it practical to fill and carry. Would the containers be completely independent?
Q2 / Depends on your scenario. If water container is 6.5-7 kilos, then it’s around 7 litres. That’s quite a lot of water. Do you expect your users to refill by bringing new water to the container, or for them to take the container to a water source located somewhere away from your product? You can provide a water refiller for the first case. For the second case, yes the water container needs to be easy to carry.
Q3 / I think you mean ‘door’ rather than ‘lid’ for the opening part of your product? The door principle for me is fine. You may not have opportunity to have access to both sides of the product, but having the option to open from either side makes sense. It’s difficult to think of a better principle.
Q4 / Overall form is appropriate and not too bulky. It has a geometric aesthetic which helps in definining the connections. Fine for me, but this is a decision only you can make and justify.
Q5 / Connection detail has to be considered either as a form detail integrated into the skeleton (in which case if injection moulded, it has to be really easy to produce) or it can be a separate component assembled later to the skeleton. Current dovetail method I can imagine will be difficult to assemble in practice with the joining part wanting to slide in/out when the user wants it to remain fixed. It might be frustrating. You may alternatively consider a filleted square profile (like a picture frame) which has holes in the right places to allow screws/bolts or some other mechanical fasterner to be used. These might be more reliable. But if you want very quick disassembly they are not so good. SO you need to know your priorities for this part.
Keep safe and well, Owain.
Thank you a lot for your precious comments, they are really helpful.
About the interface, I will go on the way with the visual representation and correspanding leds. First I thought that, if I will show water shortage or system error on the product it will be easy seen by the user. Yet turns out very complicated. I will make more basic indicators on the product.
Right now its dimensions are 30x45x45 cm. Height is changes 45 to 50 cm up to geometry I choose. I am so sorry I forgat to put them again with human etc. I did it before, (cause I set final dimensions after prejury, I forgat to put again)
To visualize it, two of them equel ro height of counter top an, 5 of them almost reach to ceiling.
And I also mention about the why we needed gas connection again.
I am providing extra water units, like in the concept two in prejury to user if he sets a lot of units like 10, its hard ro refill all the water ro all of them, user can buy optionally seperate water unit. This is why I needed gas transfer, cause first I am rurn water into gas and transmit it (easy to carry gas than water).
I thought water containers should be compeletely independent and user can take the container to the water source. It seems to better idea that with water refiller. First I thouht about it, user bring water refiller and refill all the units, yet cause every unit need 7 litre water, its gonna turns to same scenario with other one. User should carry a lot of water for each. So making unit easy to carry, it gives user to more freedom to choose refill how. He can carry water container to eater source, or use external water refiller.
My priority is stability than quick disassambly. Thank you for your idea, I will use filleted square profiles with screw kind of assambly tool. And I will close them with lids (I hope I am using it right this time 🙂 ) to make it look more aesthetic and easy to clean.
Thank you again for you comments, they are really helpful.
Best regards