Construction of Cardboard Chair
June Fourth, Two Thousand Fourteen
Project Goal
The main point of this project was to test tensile and compressible strength and incorporate the testing results into a design of a chair. The chair needed to be built solely out of cardboard and was required to support an average sized person. Our cardboard chair was evaluated based on the structure, function, economy, aesthetics, and integrity. The function includes the users' comfort and happiness and the structure is the chair's stability and support. The aesthetics can range for colors to designs to the diverse lines that attract the costumers eye. The economy is using the least amount of cardboard to meet all the requirements and integrity is the amount of effort dedicated to the project. Although, in any structure, certain values needed to be sacrificed to appease the necessities of other categories. For example, the structure could be improved but it would require more cardboard, thus decreasing the favorable economy. Based on the design, a variety of features would be more apparent then the others.
The main point of this project was to test tensile and compressible strength and incorporate the testing results into a design of a chair. The chair needed to be built solely out of cardboard and was required to support an average sized person. Our cardboard chair was evaluated based on the structure, function, economy, aesthetics, and integrity. The function includes the users' comfort and happiness and the structure is the chair's stability and support. The aesthetics can range for colors to designs to the diverse lines that attract the costumers eye. The economy is using the least amount of cardboard to meet all the requirements and integrity is the amount of effort dedicated to the project. Although, in any structure, certain values needed to be sacrificed to appease the necessities of other categories. For example, the structure could be improved but it would require more cardboard, thus decreasing the favorable economy. Based on the design, a variety of features would be more apparent then the others.
Previous Ideas
They always get in the way of water. Throughout this project, there have been many challenges and several different designs of the chair. One major part of the experimental engineering design cycle is failure. it is important to learn what doesn't work and how to avoid similar issues in future projects and planning. For example, we have learned through experiments, that simplicity is the most efficient and manageable design. The pictures to the left display our original idea with scaled blueprints and a paper model. Although this design supported weight as a model, the thicker cardboard was not able to have analogous results. Ensuing the collapse of our first chair, a brainstorming session was in need. We came up with applying geometric shapes, such as triangles, to build supports on the following chair. Whenever needed, a set of triangles would be added for extra support. Luckily, this method was successful, as you can view below.
They always get in the way of water. Throughout this project, there have been many challenges and several different designs of the chair. One major part of the experimental engineering design cycle is failure. it is important to learn what doesn't work and how to avoid similar issues in future projects and planning. For example, we have learned through experiments, that simplicity is the most efficient and manageable design. The pictures to the left display our original idea with scaled blueprints and a paper model. Although this design supported weight as a model, the thicker cardboard was not able to have analogous results. Ensuing the collapse of our first chair, a brainstorming session was in need. We came up with applying geometric shapes, such as triangles, to build supports on the following chair. Whenever needed, a set of triangles would be added for extra support. Luckily, this method was successful, as you can view below.
Original model and design for chair with scaled blueprints.
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Final product with proof it can support thirty pounds(each textbook weights approximately five pounds).
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Reflection
One point during the presentation that was slightly troublesome was the visual aid. We typed an explanation of a Google document and it was well organized. Unfortunately, scrolling through the document at the correct timing was a challenge because there was a lot of words for the amount of time we actually spoke and elaborated about our ideas. It was also difficult because there were spaces in the document in the middle of certain sections so part of the writing would be cut off at any given time. In the future, we could possibly create to versions; one very concise with easy to see bullet points and another copy that is in paragraph form to use for references, websites, or other portfolios.
One way to be more prepared for this project and final presentation would be to start it earlier. Unfortunately, it is surprisingly difficult to find large amounts sturdy cardboard that is capable of withstanding the pressure of an entire person. Due to the lack of materials, our group postponed this project and would choose to work on programming, electrical experiments, or soldering components for a robot. Time was also challenging to manage because each member of the group was at different points of progress in terms of programming and certain people were unable to connect to the internet at home. This forced our group to split-up or work less efficiently for a couple of weeks.
Although the timing and organization of this project was challenging, our group was capable of working around each other's schedule and priorities. At times, certain group members were not able to participate in building the cardboard chairs, but the other two people were able to compensate for the missing person. Depending on the date, different collaborators need to focus on diverse tasks.
A definite exceptional point of this project was the positive morale and bonding of our group. Our personalities brought many smiles and laughs to the project despite the failures or roadblocks. Each group member was frustrated at one point, but the other people were able to inspire everyone to work harder and manage the problem. Even though we had fun with the project, the entire group was still committed to achieving the best possible final product.
One point during the presentation that was slightly troublesome was the visual aid. We typed an explanation of a Google document and it was well organized. Unfortunately, scrolling through the document at the correct timing was a challenge because there was a lot of words for the amount of time we actually spoke and elaborated about our ideas. It was also difficult because there were spaces in the document in the middle of certain sections so part of the writing would be cut off at any given time. In the future, we could possibly create to versions; one very concise with easy to see bullet points and another copy that is in paragraph form to use for references, websites, or other portfolios.
One way to be more prepared for this project and final presentation would be to start it earlier. Unfortunately, it is surprisingly difficult to find large amounts sturdy cardboard that is capable of withstanding the pressure of an entire person. Due to the lack of materials, our group postponed this project and would choose to work on programming, electrical experiments, or soldering components for a robot. Time was also challenging to manage because each member of the group was at different points of progress in terms of programming and certain people were unable to connect to the internet at home. This forced our group to split-up or work less efficiently for a couple of weeks.
Although the timing and organization of this project was challenging, our group was capable of working around each other's schedule and priorities. At times, certain group members were not able to participate in building the cardboard chairs, but the other two people were able to compensate for the missing person. Depending on the date, different collaborators need to focus on diverse tasks.
A definite exceptional point of this project was the positive morale and bonding of our group. Our personalities brought many smiles and laughs to the project despite the failures or roadblocks. Each group member was frustrated at one point, but the other people were able to inspire everyone to work harder and manage the problem. Even though we had fun with the project, the entire group was still committed to achieving the best possible final product.