Lamp Prototyping Blog Post 1

Development Sketch :

Through analysis of my ideation sketch and some fine tuning and tweaks i was able to produce this more refined sketch which is more accurate to the product i had in mind, it takes more of the manufacturing processes at my disposal into consideration, allowing me to do something more advanced while staying realistic and achievable. The sketch was made digitally using Adobe Sketchbook. 

This developed idea includes more 3D printed parts than i initially expected, this is because i initially planned on vacuum forming the lamp shade over a mold however further research prompted changing it as vacuum forming is often inaccurate and inconsistent (Ref 2 - Toolcraft Plastics (2023) - Vacuum Forming Process - Explanation, Schematic View & Video [online]) .I thought of a few alternatives and options to get around this but 3D printing on a thin translucent plastic was the most accurate and graceful solution i could find.

The biggest change i made to the design, affecting both the way the product works and its overall aesthetics was deciding i wanted it to also rotate while switched on, i found that when i started to design the lamp on CAD software: Fusion 360 i had to rotate the camera around or go quite far back to see the design as it was meant to be seen, this can be simulated in real life by rotating the shade and bars, hence showing all of the different lengths of bars and making the product more interesting and organic.

Other changes i decided to make include the general proportions of the lamp, having a clear top to the lamp, allowing the user to see through the lamp into the mechanism, similar to an open mechanism watch, i think this would make the lamp have a more interesting and interactive aesthetic as well as making it a bit more original.

CAD Mockup:

For this CAD render of the prototype mockup i used the 3D modelling software Fusion 360. Fusion 360 helps to accurately draw up your design with precise measurements, joints ,components and material simulation. I find fusion as a valuable tool to help you take the proportions from a simple drawing into quantifiable and accurate measurements which act as the foundation for the whole product’s size.

This Mockup allowed me to get needed quantitative data such as the full circle radius of the curve of the shade and the support bars around it. The mockup also allowed me to see how much space i would need for the mechanism within the base of the lamp, which meant i was able to find the right pieces of wood and materials for manufacture.

This design is not 100 percent true to what i plan on building as i will cut the majority of the support beams short in order to get the aesthetic i was looking for. The light is not simulated quite how I imagine it will look but it is very close. The render shows a mostly accurate image of what i plan on creating. 

Now that I have the accurate measurements from the CAD model i will go on to produce the next blog post including a flow chart of what my steps are in manufacturing the product and split it down into specific processes related to each component.