Design Challenge
For my Mechanical Synthesis class, we were given an open design project to discover a need of industrial-scale chefs and create a product solution. I worked with Michael Earle on this project in Spring 2018.
My partner and I interviewed a chef from our dining hall. We learned that chefs spend many hours per day chopping vegetables to prep for dinner, but inappropriate counter top heights often lead to back ache and injury. Based on our interview findings, I drew out a user storyboard.
We used this user storyboard as we brainstormed different ideas to solve this problem. Given our time and budget constraints, we ultimately decided that the best solution would be an adjustable height cutting board holder that allows the chef to raise the board to the height they need. From our initial concept, we created a morphological chart where we broke down the functions of such a device into four categories and brainstormed possible ideas for each function.
The most essential function of our board was height adjustment, the selection of the height adjustment method came first and guided the rest of our design. We evaluated each height adjustment idea in a weighted decision matrix that took the following into account:
1. degree of racking (side to side movement)
2. adjusting time
3. continuity of motion
4. user visibility (understanding of how to use)
5. ability to be cleaned
6. manufacturing complexity
7. ability to remain parallel to countertop
8. compatibility with other functions
Our final design used a sliding linkage mechanism to adjust the height
The bolt holds the "roller car" in place and prevents the linkages from moving once it's in the upright position. The bolt can be taken out and the car can be slid to another position to adjust the height of the cutting board.
The final product we created didn't have all the functionality we hoped for, so we created a CAD and product video to showcase what an ideal version of our product would look like. Given the opportunity to improve our product, we would include: lockable rotational storage, bearings and pins in the roller car, an extra extension direction, and self-lubricating nylon nested rods.
The photos below illustrate how "Schön", the Adjustable Height Cutting Board Holder, solves improper back and wrist posture when prepping vegetables.
Poor back and wrist posture
