Watering Can
Watering Can
Prompt
To research, design, and make a functioning watering device that can hold and pour a minimum of ½ gallon of water. The final appearance model was to be usable and attractive.
process - research & Sketch Concepts
I first researched through current competitive offerings, the use, and the human factors of using a watering can. Going through sketches to explore ideas helped in determining the direction I wanted to go into. I wanted a look of a bifurcated branch as the overarching theme to the design of the watering can. It would look organic and tie into the nature and the flow of water.
Task Flow Analysis
process - Task flow analysis
Going through the task flow or process diagram helped in identifying key tasks that would affect the design of my watering can (problems I wanted to solve or issues I wanted to improve upon0. For example, the handle needs to be out of the way from the filling port so that water does not splash everywhere when the watering can is being filled. The watering can needed to be easy to pick up, easy to use, and easy to set down in place.
process - Design
The watering can be held in multiple ways along the bifurcated features. Regarding the design of the watering can itself, the filling port section (thicker of the two necks) can be used to hold the watering can during pouring as well as to hold various plant items. Alternatively, the larger filling port can be used as the pour spout as well to accommodate more water exit volume.
Process – CAD Development
The watering can was modeled in SolidWorks and saved out for 3D printing. The top, right, and front isometric views were sketched and imported in first before modeling. To verify that the device can hold ½ gallons of water, the intersect feature used. Lofting was the main CAD technique employed.
Process – Making – 3D Printing
The watering can was printed out in 5 separate pieces in 3 different 3D printers (the LulzBot TAZ 5, the Zortrex M200, and the Makerbot Replicator 5). Because of this, the pieces I got back had unmatched colors. Also, the piece I got back from the Makerbot was made from PLA whereas the Tazbot and the Zortrex produced ABS pieces. This did not impede the attachment process however.
Process – Making – Post Process
The parts were attached together with Cyanoacrylate (Loctite 40), followed by sanding and the application of Bondo to fill out the creases and to even out the mating surfaces. XTC-3D was applied to smooth out the striations from the 3D prints. Finally, primer and spray paint was applied to finish off the pieces between multiple stages of sanding.
Process – Making – Base
A wooden base was added to bring together the meaning of the bifurcated trunk as part of the theme of the watering can design. I first designed using some scrap wood and then followed up with some really nice walnut for the 3D contouring. I opted to design and laser engrave a QR code on the bottom to my Linkedin Portfolio.
Process – Making – Base
I opted to redo my original watering can’s finish by using a different paint color. This meant I ended up removing the old off-white yellowish paint by hand and starting over, much like how cars are refinished (as I learned).
In the end, I found that automotive primer, rather than XTC-3D was most effective in smoothing out rough 3D prints. I also learned what it took to get a “show room” finish by hand and painting using only rattle cans. The final polish was achieved using some Meguiar’s automotive wax. I developed and recorded the steps in my sketch notebook.
learning and takeaways
The project exposed me to the task flow analysis and how it can reveal or make apparent the design constraints or criteria that are part of the designed object. A full exploration of how to marry form, function, ergonomics, and materials use was done.
I also got a chance to practice surface modeling a bit more along with learning how to assemble and finish large 3D printed parts that were printed in components. The finishing portion was quite the challenge due to how iterative the process was with multiple stages of sanding between primer and painting with various grades of sandpaper.
