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Project Overview
In this project, I applied my knowledge of information processing and the principles of visual, and tactile feedback to create a unique 3D printed keychain. This project served as a practical application of the concepts covered in our coursework and allowed me to explore the intersection of design and usability.
The primary objective of this project was to design and 3D print a functional keychain while considering the following key aspects:
Functionality: How the keychain would work and serve its purpose effectively.
Information Processing: How information processing would aid or hinder the user in finding the keychain within a backpack pocket.
Visibility: How the keychain would be visible at the bottom of a backpack pocket.
Tactile Feedback: How the keychain would feel to the user's touch, enabling them to locate it without visual assistance.
Process
Ideation: Crazy 8's
Utilizing the "crazy 8" sketching method, I generated eight different keychain design concepts on paper (Fig. 1).
Evaluation: Choosing a Design Concept
I evaluated all of my drawings and picked 'Sketch 6' from my crazy 8's (Fig. 1). This sketch looks like a bottle opener with scales to some, and a fancy cowboy boot to others. I decided to lean into the scales and created a dragon design. I also decided to try and make the mouth capable of opening bottles as well (Fig.2).
Prototyping: Dissecting for CAD
I then considered how I would need to translate the design into Tinkercad for 3D printing. I knew the piece would have to split in the center in order to slot the bottle opener 'teeth', and I knew I wanted to bind the pieces in the thickest locations possible to benefit its durability. I split my design into four pieces, with the female connectors being placed in the wing and below one of the 'scale bumps' on the back of the dragon (Fig.2).
(Fig. 1) Eight different keychain design sketches.
(Fig. 2) A sketch of the chosen keychain design, and a sketch of the design broken down into the pieces it would require to 3D print.
Prototyping: CAD Design
I translated my paper sketches into Tinkercad (Fig. 3), relying heavily on the scribble function. I focused first on the shape and visual appeal of the design, before sizing everything to fit the standard proportions of bottle opener.
(Fig. 3) A screengrab of the keychain design built out in TinkerCAD. All of the pieces are positioned around each other for an efficient print.
Deliverables
3D Printed Keychain
At first I printed the keychain 10mm thick. After assembling and holding the 10mm version seemed too thick. A key ring could fit through the hole on the 10mm keychain, but would be a problem for mobility if too small a key ring is used. For both these reasons I decided to make the design thinner. I thought 7-8mm would likely suffice, especially if a fully developed product was made with metal, so I sized down to 7mm for my final print (Fig. 4). This felt much better to hold, and moved smoothly on the key ring too.
(Fig. 4) A picture taken of the 7mm keychain after it has been printed and assembled.
Reflection
Rationale
We were tasked to make a keychain that could be easily found, even when not visible. The keychain I designed uses tactile feedback as the main way to help information processing for the user. It is hard to mistake the dragon shape with much else in your pockets or bags. Its unique shape, and wide center opening (which is a bottle opener as well) provide the user with an plenty of tactile cues to locate the keychain in a cluttered pocket or obscured space. Additionally, its length allows it to fit in pants, purses, and backpack pockets, while also being longer than most objects. This means that it has less available resting positions making it easier to visually locate too.
I also made the keychain two pieces, allowing the bottle opener teeth to be inserted into the print, rather than printed with it. This was to make the design compatible with a possible metal improvement, even though the prototype is fully PLA.
The dragons wing doubles as a near perfect ergonomic handle too, making the bottle opener function easy to use and comfortable to grip for the majority of users.
How'd it turn out?
This project came together better than expected. I aimed for a lofty goal, originally aiming to make design 6 of my ideation phase more dragon like. By the end of my sketching and dissecting my idea I had a multi-piece dragon keychain that I was 80% sure I could figure out within Tinkercad. I was able to figure it out, even though I failed my first attempt, but trial and error with the scribble tool solved my initial issues. I ran into problems when designing my connection pins because Tinkercad does not allow you to select planes, but by making a part of my design into multiple objects I was able to align what I needed.
On first print the only flaw with my design was the thickness. I was worried about strength, I didn't want it to break during use. I sized down to 7mm for my final print. This felt much better to hold, and moved smoother on the key ring too.
Improvement Opprotunities
As mentioned before, metal teeth would be a major improvement for the opener, and the design can fit them. Metal teeth would not only help function and durability, but would benefit visibility as well. Due to the glare metallic surfaces can provide finding the product in obscured locations would be easier.
As for the body of the keychain, a potential improvement for both tactile and visual aspects would be to add a scaled texture across the body, and a ridged texture for the wings. If I had unlimited time I may have attempted this, but with the tools we were using and knowledge it seemed a bit out of scope.
The change to 7mm and thinner teeth seems to have fixed what I didn’t like, but I still have yet to see if the print can withstand opening multiple bottles without metal teeth. The 10mm versioned survived multiple throws at the ground, so I imagine the 7mm should hold up to regular use.
Lastly, I wouldn't use Tinkercad for something like this again. I had to use Tinkercad because of project constraints, but I have used other CAD programs and Tinkercad felt bad in comparison. There are some basic functions that it doesn't handle and forces you to use work around’s that seem unneeded.
Project Completion Date: October 5th, 2023
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