Assignment 2: Beverage Container
Description of design drivers / goals
- Goal Construct a parametric beverage container that would be a portable,and durable container for children of varying ages.
Logic diagram
CAD models
Parametric variations: Images
Parameters
Age: (ages 5-30) Drives height of cup, which also dictates bubble curvature. As age increases height does so in a proportionate manner. Age also drives base width and top opening. As age progresses the base shortens and the top and bottom widths become more proportionate to each other. Because a five year old is more likely to knock over a cup by accident and not have great hand eye coordination the cup is designed to be short sturdy and stable. As you progress in age the container begins to resemble more of a glass or water bottle that is convenient for adults to carry.
Thirst: (1-5)The thirst of the user dictates a certain degree of openness at the top of the container. For an extremely parched user the top becomes wider, and for a already satisfied user the opening is smaller.(1=Just had something to drink,5=Dehydration)
Parenting Skills: (1-5)Parenting skills dictate the thickness of the cup. As parenting skills lack in quality the need for a strong durable cup to withstand temper tantrums and random spankings is needed. While a achievement of a quality upbringing brings less beatings a thinner cup can be achieved.(1=
Moderately Thirsty 25yr old, with bad parents
Not Thirsty 12yr old with good parents
Moderately Thirsty 5yr old with bad parents
Some Other Models
Lessons learned
There will be problems. I ran into a lot of error messages and struggled with my model either being over constrained or under constrained. In the beginning the model was working beautifully then I started to add a thickness to the container and everything kind of went haywire. It was challenging to find an equation to move the two sides in coincide with each other while never touching. There were points where I thought I was done and tried to test a case and it collapsed on itself. I didn't test all of the cases so there are probably certain combinations of parameters that cause the model to implode on itself. I didn't have any particular interesting cases where I got a really weird models, but mainly a lot of models that couldn't be constructed. Overall I learned that it helps to sometime erase things that are just not working and start over. Some of my problems also stemmed from me trying to put in the parenting parametric after I already constructed a lot of the geometry. Tweaking equations and relationships was something I found took time and a lot of trial and error. Overall I really enjoyed designing in DP.
Discussion
you design was interesting for me because your dimension factors(height, width, and etc) driven by three parameters(age,thirst, parenting skill) are similar to my water bottle design system.(movility, Dryness, temperature). Eventhough the name of driving parameters are different, I think we have similar structure of dimension changing system. You have more unique idea and fun design, and I really enjoyed it. I also had same experience like yours that you describe in lessons learned section, and I can see your difficulties that you have been though to create this fun and engoyable design. but i really think you did good job~
I really like how your project has developed from those early ideas that you presented - good job!
Sometimes equations are needed to do things but many times it is possible to find a geometric construction that does what one is after. The best way to find this is often doing a couple of iterations, starting over with each one but learning from the previous mistakes. I find that often I arrive at a result which kind of does what I want but then I go away and think about it for a while and find a much more elegant solution.
“Moderately Thirsty 25yr old, with bad parents” HAHA. I love the concept of a 25 yr-old who needs a cup to “withstand temper tantrums and random spankings” due to the “badness” of his parents. You made my day, Nthando!
Aside from enjoying your concept, I also like the multiple curves you've employed in the beverage container design. Although I cannot access the CAD files right now, I'm curious to know how you constrained corresponding points in interior/exterior curves. I struggled with this myself and do not think that I found the most elegant solution.
Nonetheless, I look forward to exploring your project more later. Nice work!
You really get some interesting variations on your design. What was the original image you had in mind at the onset? How much did it change during the process?
I know that personally, the finished product was quite different than the original design.
Regardless, I really like your design, good work!