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Innovative product design for safe and comfortable laptop use in bed, addressing skin damage risk and greenhouse emissions.
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Product DesignA-level Bedside Laptop Holder Tahir Rafiq
Design Brief Problem: there are a lot of people mainly teenagers who use their laptops in bed at night. What I have found out about this issue is that a number of people have suffered from problems such as severe burns, damage to the laptops, and other parts which in the long-term can have some affects. To this day the main problems for us in this world is the greenhouse affect and emissions caused by unesccery power usage . For example using a room light to be able to view your keyboard to be able to type. From this problem I will design and produce a product that helps in all ways to both humans and the planet. What I mean by this is that i make my product. Interesting, safe , comfortable, adaptable, and most of all environmentally friendly I would also use a number of materials that are not as used commonly. Firstly I would find a client who would be interested in the laptop holder. I will also look at the different types of materials I can use, and a wide number of designs which can be questioned by the public to see their thoughts and views. Researching the current problems, and current designs would help me to design a product that is not in the current market. The most important part is the way that the laptop holder is designed by researching it the antrometrics and safety of the current holders I will then have a clear idea on what to do.
Problem research Skin damage linked with laptops http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/10October/Pages/Skin-damage-linked-with-laptop-use.aspx Balancing your laptop on your knees could cause permanent discolouration of the skin and, in rare cases, cancer,” warned the Daily Mail. The story is of a 12-year-old boy who developed a skin condition caused by the heat from a laptop that was balanced on his bare legs. The condition, erythema ab igne, is also known as “toasted skin syndrome”, and is characterised by mottled-looking skin resulting from prolonged exposure to heat or an infrared source. Since 2004, there have been at least 10 reported cases of the condition or of burns related to laptop use. This is a rare condition, but the connection between it and laptops has been documented several times before. The incidence is likely to become more frequent as laptops become more widespread. The skin damage itself is usually harmless and has no symptoms. As reported, there is a chance that the condition can develop into cancer, but this is a small risk. Simple common-sense precautions can remove this risk. The researchers suggest using a heat-protective barrier between the skin and the laptop (such as the laptop bag), or placing the machine on another surface. Where did the story come from? The study was carried out by researchers from the Department of Dermatology at University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. It was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Pediatrics. What kind of research was this? This was a case report of a 12-year-old boy who developed a skin condition called erythema ab igne, caused by the heat from a laptop that was balanced on his bare legs. The researchers also carried out a review of the literature on the skin condition. Erythema ab igne is indicated by discolouration and mottling of the skin, and is caused by prolonged exposure to an infrared heat source. What did the research involve? The case report was of a boy who had presented to the emergency department with marks on one of his upper legs. The researchers also carried out a literature search for studies of similar cases in a review of the topic. They found that nine cases of laptop-induced erythema have been reported since 2004, plus one case of a burn produced by a laptop.
Plan Of Action To assure my project is kept up to-date. I will make a plan on the step by step procedures that I will take on board. I have researched in the best ways to plan a project and I have realised that making a table can be the most simplest way and organised.
Joints should be tested for excessive weight held upon. The laptop holder should not have any effect from excessive heat Based on a original wooden grain effect Bright attractive colour based on options for the young aged people e.g. Pin for girls, blue for boys Not containing loose pieces Health and safety of manufacturing the laptop holder. No sharp edges All electronic parts should be checked and tested Can be customized , made to adapt Equipment for mass or one off production The reason my actual product will have the original wooden grain effect is because .I think it would look most attractable and classical. safety Profits gained colours The type of equipment needed Equipment and Cost Laptop holders Costs of materials plastic pvc materials After pvc testing I can see that certain temperatures affect the polymer. Due to the laptop heat it would not be sufficient for me to use polymers for my laptop holding stand. How much of the similar design is in the market Shape and size Wood Metal aluminium How much time and money I would use pine Aluminium has a number of helping ways for a bedside laptop holder such as the main frame structure that balances out the whole holder which makes it stand upright. plywood Shape should be proportion to a laptop size. Modern shapes which look attractive I have chosen to use plywood as one of my materials for a part of my project. Reason for this is because it is seen as a less attractive material to use for purposes like this however . I would like to take a chance to make plywood attractive and be able make it more pratical for use not just for covering up broken windows etc. Custom design to be adapted to the room surroundings For my project I would use aluminium piping . The piping would be used for adjusting the laptop holder . Aluminium is light strong and attractable making the stand look attractive. Heat affected , easy to work with? Durable and attractive. Also to see if its reliable for long term. New up to date technologies should be added e.g mug warmer, extra usb slots
Client For a professional project in production a client is most needed .The main reason for a client is so I could base my project design upon a problem of the age looked at . I could also refer back to my client for step by step procedures I take. I have decided to use my friend as a client , the reason for this is : • He is a friend which is easy to contact when needed, • He works at pc world so he is aware of the current trends of sales of laptops and holders. • He is a teenager , who uses a laptop in bed where he finds most appropriate time of use. So the client is perfect for my current situation. This list shows the times where I would make a link with my client at different stages of my project : • The current problem of my project • Design viewer • Questionnaire filler • feedback on models that I have made • Interview on the types of designs • Reviewing on designs and final product • Customization of product Client requirements: after speaking to my client I have got a list of requirements that’s required for the laptop holder. • To have a new and funky design • Must have a original glossy/shine finish • Use of different materials • A number of different electronic features (mug warmer/ Bluetooth/ led) • Environmentally friendly materials. • Teenage based design with a side logo • New and unique design.
Plywood Testing • At this very minute I am not sure of the material that I would use for my project. The best material to use can be analysed by testing the materials. I have already thought of man made material that I would like to use that’s plywood. However I need to make sure that it would be suitable as a laptop holder so a number of tests have to be done. • I already no the brief design of my laptop holder and that is that the frame structure itself will have a attractive bend style. • Until this day I didn't no that woods could be bent in such a way. I found the best way to bend my plywood that was by using a powdered resin glue called cascamite. By reading the ingredients and researching into them I have found that the compounds inside the glue turn out to be stronger then the wood bends itself
Acrylic Testing Acrylic has to be tested. The reason for this is to see the limitations of using pvc for my project. The way that i would test the pvc is by using a method of bending and flexibility. advantage After taking the heated thermo pvc out of the oven. I then shaped the plastic into different forms and shapes to test the flexibility of it. After leaving the pvc to cool back to room temperature the bonds fit back into place making the figure harden and stay into place. Acrylic is an extremely versatile material used in the manufacturing of a huge variety of products--ranging from signage, desktop awards and desk accessories to internally illuminated signs, skylights and aircraft windshields. This material has many attractive characteristics, including exceptional durability and extreme optical clarity. Acrylic is also easy to work with. This allows it to be fabricated into many different shapes and sizes. One of the easiest ways to form acrylic is through a process called thermo bending, which involves heating the plastic to soften it and then bending it into a shape to create products such as counter signs, picture frames, business card holders and display racks. On the above picture we can see how each en of the pvc has been twisted 360 degree around .so the flexibility test has been passed The quality of using this material is that it can be reheated and moulded back into any place. disadvantage we can see from these pictures how the pvc has deformed. I tried my upmost best in bending the thermal plastic to make it into a leg sort of design. By using an clay oven which was set on heat of 150 degree i placed my two different tones of pvcs in the oven.
Plywood bending Powdered resintite is added to water to make a thick paste. this paste thickens over time so it has to be used quickly so the oxygen does not take effect on the paste. Cascimite is a strong bonding resin that is commonly used when bonding two or more pieces of wood together my first step in the plywood bending testing shows me making up the paste by adding three parts of cascamite to one of water. I made a pine holder which is used to test if the plywood can bend in two ways. By making the pieces of wood open I placed a hinge to open and close the holder. I placed a sheet of plain paper to prevent the cascamite sticking to the holder. Which would ruin the test. After placed in a tight vice the figure is left to stand for 24hr to keep a strong structure in place. Opening the holder we can see a result of the a disfigured piece of plywood showing that my test has worked. When removing the stuck on paper a finish is just needed to complete the test of using this product. By using a brush the paste is applied carefully. Overdoing the plywood would then add layers upon the plywood giving an unattractive finish.
The adjustable poles are controlled by two toggles where the poles can be supported properly. Adjustable Leg What i have done in this first picture is that i have drilled a hole for which the screw would be able to push against the inner part to hold the piping together. For my project i am testing the steel poles. Where i would custom make them to fit my project to see if they are compatable. Research shows that steel piping is best for these situations as they are dense unlike aluminium which have the advantage of being light. To make my laptop holder i caught my idea from custom made projector holder that i saw in the food tech room. As we can see the structure is balanced by a central pole balancing the weight among four castor. The high quality, low maintenance steel pipe systems has caused a noticeable shift in attitudes toward steel. The distinctive features of steel pipes are: Toughness : Toughness requirements for a pipe is more complex than the tensile property requirements. The steel pipe toughness level is specified to guard against crack propagation.Fittings Properties : Fittings are components of the steel pipe that are usually of complex geometry and not made from line pipe, such as bends, tees, flanges, valves and set-on and set-in forged branches. Flexibility : Steel pipes can be designed and fabricated to any height and strength, this enables the customer reduce costs by designing a line for the optimum structure spacing. Steel structures are also easily modified in the field, making them easy to rework.Ease of Installation : When compared to lattice structures, the speed and ease of installation of steel tubing is a proven winner. Also, the behaviour of a steel tubing is easily predicted, while a lattice structure, with its hundreds of bolted joints, is difficult to quantify precisely. After sandint down the rough edges i the sprayed the steel pipe with black gloss spray. Spraying was done by holding the pipe on a wooden stick Inserting the inner pole and screwing in the screw to hold the pipes together shows that the test has worked where i placed heavy weights onto. This attractive has made me think about using sprays for the finish on steel piping however i would consider a chrome finish.
Plywood Finishes I now know for a fact that I would be using plywood for my project , I know this because of the bending test which inspired me, by looking from my aim I am after we can see how I would like to use finishes that are original as so is the material that I would use. However in many cases as this project is based mainly on a teen product colours have to be taken into account when taken into production. Colours are seen as moods, usually based on sex of the user. E.g sky blue for a boy and pink for a girl. I have decided to test finishes on plywood and on separate pieces of wood . I applied a total of two layers on the pieces of plywood looking for the best result. We can see hoe the black looks faded out. From this test I would choose for my final product to be in red if I used the finish. The paint soaks into the grain of the wood making it easy to apply. The types of paint that I used were a water based strong coated paint. Reason for choosing this was because it would be safe and non-toxic to children. So toddlers can crawl around the plywood and not be affected. Acrylic Paint - Acrylic paint is a durable paint that has pigments suspended in an acrylic (or plastic) binder. acrylic paints are plastic based and not natural. However, they come in a wide range of vibrant colours, are colour fast, easy to apply and clean up and have no fumes. They can even be mixed with water to create a "wash" of paint, Not all acrylic paint is created equally however! Not all acrylic paint is non-toxic or safe for toys either! labels show the "AP Non-toxic" seal. Some artist's paints have mercury, arsenic and cadmium in them for pigments . To get the natural finishes from the wooden grain i am testing the use of waxes and varnishes. I would test the bent plywood piece with one side of briwax which would be put on by coat of sanding sealer before, then rubbed n with a cloth following the grain to get a deep finish I would repeat this procedure 10 times. Varnish is a common used finish, mainly used for window sills, staircases, wooden doors. Unlike briwax the wood soaks up the bonding agent from the varnish itself, making it easy to apply and also giving an attractive and dry look mainly, good for protection against water and rotting of wood, The briwax is good for putting on the plywood as the grain soaks in the properties of the wax, helping to keep the wood waterproof and also give it a shine that looks attractive. After doing this testing I have decided to use the briwax for a clean and elegant finish. I
Questionnaire 2) If you do use a laptop in bed what do you use to support you laptop? a)Knees b)Bed table c)Pillow d)Other The main point of making a product that would go into production is to investigate before hand. As it is said that everybody has different options and views. So what I am planning to do is to ask 100 people of the public and also students 8 questions that would help to give an idea on how to product the best type of bedside laptop holder. However I am aiming at people ages 14+. I infer that the knowlegde that I will extract for the public would give me a great understanding of the design. 1) Do you have a laptop that you use at night whilst in bed? a) Yes b) No 3)On average how long do you use your laptop in bed? a) <1 hour b) 1-2 hours c) 2+ hours 4)Are you aware of the problems that are caused from laptops overheating on human contact? a)Yes b)No 6)What materials would you prefer to have for you bedside laptop holder? a)All wood design (e.g pine, plywood, etc) b)All metal design (aluminium, steel etc) c)All polyester design d)A combination of all of those materials. 5)Are you most likely to buy a product that prevents harm to your body and that is comfortable to use your laptop in bed? a)Yes b)No 7) What type of finishes would you prefer to have on your end product? a)No finish just natural b)Wax finish c) Varnish finish d)Paint finish • 8) in terms of aesthetics of the bedside laptop holder it should be • A plain and original design • Straight forward common bedside table design • New never seen unique design
Questionnaire Conclusion The whole idea of doing a questionnaire is to find out what the current views are of a certain product. So after handing my questionnaire to the public and my client I have decided to conclude all the information. The information that I have gathered from these questions would help me to conduct ideas for my deigns. Question 1: the fist question that I asked was ne o the main and most important question that was to find out how many people actually use a laptop in bed. I found out that more then 3 quarters of the people I asked actually use a laptop in bed . This information tells me that the future product that I will make would entitle to the use of people. Question 2: it is obvious that people do use their laptops at night however I had to find out the ways and positions that people use their laptops in. so the second question was based on finding the technique, I found that the majority of people actually use their knees for support of their laptop. This alerted me as I already the no the consequences of using the laptop in this manner. After finding this information I defiantly now that some type of holder is needed, Question 3: time is a major issue as there would be no point of making a product that the users would use at the minimum so I have decided to ask the average use of laptop in their beds. I found out that the mass majority of people use their laptop between 1 and 2 hours a night . From this data I now no there would be a common use of a laptop holder. Question 4: I have decided to ask everyone if they new of the conditions caused by using your laptops on your knees to see what their current views and to also make them aware of the consequences of what could happen by over use. I found out that more then 3 quarters of the people don’t know what happens when over using. Question 5: after making everyone aware of what the consequences were of laptop burns . I then asked the people if they would buy a product to prevent this serious problem that could occur from the laptop. I realised that 99% of the people were interested in a product that prevents the problem. It is alarming how a product would do good in the open market. Question 6: it is always best to ask what type of materials are best to use as an option, this would show me how the public and client would like their product and also the features that they may like. before asking the question I inferred that most people would like a mix of materials and this was surely the outcome. Question 7: finishes on a product is seen as the most crucial procedures., as this is the one thing that the buyer has control over to keep the product up-to-date. I can see how a natural finish of bri-wax would look most attractive . This is what the public have chosen
Product Analysis laptop stand Ergonomics & Anthropometrics We can obviously see how the laptop holder has its positives in adjusting for different angles. However these are the only positives of the design itself that relates to the ergonomics. I cant see any way of comfort for the user . As you would obviously have to sit up and use this stand. There is no way of laying on a bed and having in front of you. These are the limitations of the product. The main negative point about this product is that is not originally designed but by the use of different products that you can buy and then put into one. This laptop holder is a clear example of the ways that ideas evolve around current products. What I mean by this is that the current design of the laptop holder is held the same features stand of a video recorder. Video recorder stands are very good due to the fully adjustable feature that they have. To make the laptop holder position fully adjustable the final product is made from an aluminium plate where the laptop would be placed on, and also held by Velcro straps. The laptop plate would then be connected to the main joint of the aluminium stand. • The way that these laptop holders are manufactured would be in a number of stages. • The aluminium plate is designed to hold all sorts of laptops where the sizes vary from big to small. • aluminium legs made to keep the laptop stiff and not sturdy when the laptop would be at a high height. Legs adjustable from 40cm to 1 and half metres. Made from light aluminium pipes Conclusion Personally the only attractive look I like about this design is that it looks modern with the use of great thought material, aluminium this is good because it is light to transportation would be compatible. However the over all design and structure is just a camera/videocam holder making it an old theory as it is currently used for other purposes the only thing that has been made from originating production is the laptop plate and the elastic straps that keep the laptop in place. Personally I like the idea of this design and looks stable and very adjustable but I wouldn’t like to use it for myself in bed as . There is a sense of hard structure which doesn’t look atractive, however I can see how anyone can set this up and store away into different places. Aluminium plate designed in such a way that the laptop stays cool and easily ventilated Style and function There is ability of using the laptop from inclining and declining. Usually helps for viewing and typing methods. The original colour of gunmetal grey has a good affect as it seems original. Limitation of this would be when aiming for teenagers they would most likely prefer a number of themed colour choices which suits them. Thermo plastic made handles to prevent absorbent of heat that comes of the laptop. This is positive link on the design. As this is what prevents the melting of the handle. Elasticised straps to keep the laptop in upright position and prevent it from falling. So this design clearly shows how sizes of laptops are taken into account.
Product Analysis bed type laptop stand I find this product a well designed and most adaptable compared to a lot of laptop holders as anyone can use it, with the site of the table it self. This product is priced at £29.99 and can be delivered to your door, with no setup techniques as it comes as a folded piece An original finished wooden bed laptop holder and dinner table, is adaptable and easy to carry around table. Valued at £30 it is seen as good value for money with its handle and briefcase carriage box. Ergonomics and anthropometrics Ergonomically both designs are attractive in their own way as the pine table is more natural. And the acrylic and steel table is more adaptable to the user, making it anthropometric comfortable to the users. As we can see the laptop is on a angle where it is easier to use when in bed it is also durable and well designed, and at the same time it has the natural look. That is fairly attractive. Manufacturing processes & finishes On the left the disability table is manufactured in batches where the table itself is thermo set acrylic which would be made through excursion where it would be moulded into shape. The piping for the structure is rubber coated steel keeping the structure strong and durable. Drop mechanisms are made to help the table swing into place and fold away. so there are three main stages in manufacture for the product. That would be to get the materials then to make the polymer into shape. Then the steel piping to cut and bed, then drilling holes which would be done by a machines. This laptop table has its own main use for people with disabilities, or those in wheelchairs. It is light due to the use of light materials, making it adaptable , strong and at the same time adjustable in a way making it flat and easy for storage. Personally I think that both these designs new good in the sense of compatibility and transfer as they are both easy to store and move around. I wouldn’t use any of these designs for my ideas as they seem to common, however I would be using a natural finish with a natural material pine. Versatile Rolling Table - Laptop Table - Wheelchair Table Over bed Table - Versatile Pivot & Tilt Over bed Table - Wheelchair Table - Rolling Laptop TableThe mast of the table pivots and can be locked in one of the three positions from flat on the floor to 90 degrees.The pivot feature allows the table top to be positioned closer to individuals in a bed, sitting in a chair or wheelchair, or folded for storage It is also a bonus to have other functions that the laptop holder can do, books are seen as the most used activity in bed.
Product Analysis bedside tables Firstly the reason why I have done research on both standing /bed laptop stand and a bedside table is because I have already decided to collaborate these together making a never seen design which I cannot find out in the market, making my design new and unique. Design and anthropometrics The overall design of this laptop stand has two main functions one is clearly to hold a laptop which is adjustable only up and down as the limitation of this design is that it cannot swivel all the way around I will make sure my laptop stand function is able to be adjusted in all directions making is easy and adjustable for the user. Overall the stand it self is not attractable due to its main structure which is seen as a bond of metal work. The finishes used on this product is rubber based for protection. Preventing strain it has the adjustable function with a twisted knob. Same type of steel legging material as what you would find on computer tables. The t shape at the bottom is commonly used for stability of the whole structure preventing the laptop falling off. Overall I am pleased with the function of the holder, and the design of the bedside tables so I will keep in mind the designs and finishes used, as my aim is for a surreal design I have decided to bond these two together and making it extra safe and fully adjustable at the same time. Manufacture and materials It is very important to choose the materials that you would use when making a product like this. You have to think about the overall structure of the design itself . As we can see by both side tables here they are surreal with they crooked looked legs, so it is important that the materials chosen are strong enough to hold the heavy weight that is on. Mahogany is used for both theses side tables, with different coats of finishes. I have always liked the old fashioned surreal design of tables , especially of those that look unstable. For example these thin crooked legs look like they are about to snap with the weight that would be put on. Here again a surreal design that looks like it is made out of cast iron, however it is actually mahogany with a black varnish paint.
Product Analysis primary plywood Plywood is used in a number of situations mainly of those that are less professional, for example if a house window was broken plywood would be used to prevent air coming in and used as a substitute until the window is there to fit. So it is pretty obvious how plywood is not seen as a attractive wood but more of a cheap DIY job. Now since I would like to make my laptop holder more of a unusual surreal design which is one of a kind. I have decided to use plywood in my design I do not now what function the plywood would have but that it would be used in the structure of the product. They plywood has been bended by a mould which has left it in the curved bend useable to go over legs and to place a laptop over it. It is a good design but not practice enough as you have to be in one position which would cause strain to the user. Practical and light would describe this as a whole as manufacture would be really easy and cheap by the use of a single mould but would need time to settle. I infer that two sheets of 6mm plywood have been joined by cascamite and put into a mould that bends. This lap stand costs £20 I would say it is over valued and many people would not buy this due to its functioning I found this following table in my 6th form library where we use it as a coffee table and a laptop table. Am happy with the design as it is ergonomically situated and finished with a natural varnish. This design clearly shows how attractive the plywood looks and also shows how the stability of the stand. the light material of plywood helps to bend into different shapes. The manufacture stages that occur in this product is three stages. These are that cutting of the material then bending and then the finish. The manufacturing system would be in a batch manufacture as it would be more worthwhile as there would be a high demand for this product, valued at £35 it is worth the money however you would see these in libraries rather then in your bedroom where you can only stand up to use or even sit down if you have a high chair. The whole structure comes as a piece this means that the laptop stand has been bend in a couple of different stages where the plywood would be bent. This product fits in the client requirement, however it would not help in the function of keeping the laptop cool. The design is funky and upto dat making it unique and modern, however I wouldn’t see many people buying it as it is valued at £50
Ergonomics & Anthropometrics The term "ergonomics" is derived from two Greek words: "ergon," meaning work, and "nomoi," meaning natural laws. Ergonomists study human capabilities in relationship to work demands To reduce the risk of injury we could follow the ergonomic principles: -All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several different, but equally healthy and safe postures. -Where muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest appropriate muscle groups available. -Work activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head, trunk, and upper limbs. When linking my design ergonomically I have found the average sizes of bed from floor to the top of the bed this would hep to keep the laptop level to the bed making it easier for the user. Keeping the user in upright position preventing any strain. The human measurements that I would take into account are those that link with the use of the laptop holder that would be the sizes of the hands and average body sizes so the adjustability can be how the user would like it best. The study of Anthropometrics (human measurement) is concerned with the physical sizes and shapes of humans. Of particular interest are the differences between and among different populations (men vs. women, Northern Europeans vs. Japanese). Anthropometrics literally means man (anthro) measurements (metric). It is the measurement of the size and proportions of the human body, as well as parameters such as reach and visual range capabilities. Accurate data on height, weight, limb, and body segment sizes are needed to design items ranging from clothing, furniture, automobiles, buses, and subway cars to space shuttles and space stations. Anthropometrics enables us to properly size items, including system interfaces, to "fit" the user.
From looking through my research I realised that it would be best to use a combination of materials for my besides laptop holder. This is by Referring back to my questionnaire. So the two main materials to research on is pine, steel piping. Materials research Pine Originally pine comes from trees which has no needles or leaves, the softwood consists of growing preferences, where the tend to grow quick and tall unlike hardwoods which take a longer time. The best part of using these type of trees are because when taking a tree out you would have to replace the tree with three other trees. When passed through the swami to be cut to size it is decided for which size it would be for purposes. Such as shelving, decking Pine is used for a number of things from huge buildings to small kitchen forks. physical properties The yellow pine is heavier then the usual shelving pine, it is stronger and harder which makes it a strong material for a laptop holding stand, properties inside the pine make it decay resistant however it has to be maintained with oils and waxes/varnishes. appearances The grains are uneven along the timber piece making it original and attractive the feel of the pine is strong, which doesn’t lead to splinters or any problems when running your hand along it. Working properties The softwood is a easy material to work with and to mould into different shapes. I would use pine for my project keeping in mind the knots that would be on the pine which has to be avoided, preventing this would help to keep my product less chance of being damaged. I find pine as a easy going material which is fully functional in most situations. Uses There are so many uses that is mainly of different purposes as structural timber or wall sheets for homes, other uses such as boxes , crates and baskets. A main use for pine is on boats where a waterproof paint is applied to the boat. Is pine environmentally friendly: Where there is one tree taken three more are planted so it is pretty obvious that pine is always there to grow. It is easy for pine to be used over again depending on the quality of the pine. physical properties There are different types of steel as they do not all have the same properties. This is due to their elements used in the manufacture. Alloys are made from the mixture of steel and other elements. The way that alloying is done determines the physical properties such as hardness, flexibility , ductility. It is flexible as steel can be moulded into any desired shape. It also has the lowest strength to weight ratio compared to any other building material. Steel By extracting the needed raw materials from the earth. The three main materials that are used are iron ore , coal and limestone after placing these three ingredients into a furnace where the temperature is at 1600oc for a long time after is produced a molten pig iron from the iron ore. The quality of the pig iron is not good enough for commercial use so by adding a carbon structure you make steel. This is done by a basic oxygen furnace the steel then casts into a thick or thin slab to be sold. Working properties It usually depends on the thickness of steel , it is usually difficult to work with steel if you do not have the proper machinery to cut it. Joining the metal can only be done by welding or oxy-acetylene welding. Plasma and laser cutting are another type of method that could be used to cut the steel. Appearance Steel usually ahs different types of surfaces and textures, depending on the purpose of the steel when manufactured. Alloys usually have a good finish which is mainly shiny and attractive. Usually buffering is used to give a smooth and shiny finish to steel. Is steel environmentally friendly We no the way that steel is mined from the earths crust, it creates an eyestone environment where the material is mined, which will destroy the natural landscape of the area. Apart from this steel is environmentally friendly as 90% if not all the steel can be recycled without losing any physical properties in the process. This reduces the amount of material needed to be extracted from the earth therefore reducing its overall impact towards the environment. Uses There are so many multipurpose functions that steel has in our everyday lifestyles ranging from cookware we use to cook our food, to important scientific instruments such as scalpels and retort stands for instance.
Costing It is clear how all businesses aims and reason for sales is for profit, mainly based on the value of the product of sales. Profit is worked out from the amounts of money spent from making the product costs involving travel manufacture and materials, excluding wages for the workers. Before manufacture of a product, designs and plans have to be made , so there would be a guaranteed profit making from the manufacture of the product. If there is a small amount of profit or no profit there would be a loss to the organisation making all the time planning and machinery used a waste of money. So now we no the aim of the project, I need to decide what parts of the laptop holder I have to take into consideration to get the best outcome. I infer that the most investment/cost would start from the materials that have to be bought. I have made it clear that this project will officially only have one product for the outcome, but then again if there was a chance of manufacture I would have different calculations that would be different as the materials would be cheaper in bulk orders. Altogether there are some stages for the costs, as each part has its own costing values, for my laptop holder there would be two stages: 1) Material and components This consists of materials such as the plywood , steel piping , pine shelving, that is needed for my project. Other components needed like screws and other components that are needed to assemble the structure together, to solve the cost problem I would buy some cheap components and materials however they would be good enough condition and would look attractive, making the money worthwhile as the finished product would be reasonable. I have already decided that I will be using the schools resources such as screw and other small components , however I will purchase my own pine and hard materials. 2) Manufacturing costs Like all manufacturing sites the consuming cost's the machinery needed for the production and the appliances used such as the electricity and time, rent of the factory. I have diced to use the schools facilities costing me nothing, as I am not going to do a mass production just a plan for a mass production with a one off piece. The following table shows the costs that this project cost me and the supposed sale price which was evaluated at a classic furniture shop.
Specification Target Audience: My product will be targeted towards the people of ages 12+ years old both genders because my product can be made for either a boy or a girl as all laptop users are both sexes. By having a client I will find out if they like/dislike the designs and ideas, the information that I gain from my client would aid me in my ideas. Cost: after looking at the similar current products out in the market I can see that many of the products are in the same price range. The prices are ranged between £30+. The material that I have found for the product is shelving wood. And the use of third party product costing approximately the total amount of £18 and selling for the price of £40 making a good profit. This includes the finishes which are used for the final product. Size: by looking at the current products out there and taking into account the size of an average laptop I have decided to make limitations on the size of my product. So by taking into account the measurements of bed side tables and also laptop holders I would have to mould them together to make the perfect calculations for it not to be too big or too small. So the bedside table would not be no bigger then 500mm and 400mm wide. This would make my product adaptable to anyone with a bed. However the limitations are that it may not be able to adapt to those beds which are more then half a metre in height. Weight: altogether the weight may be an issue in many ways of the weight of a laptop that would be placed on the laptop holder . The way that I would go around this issue is to make my product compatible and stable enough to hold the laptop in different angles. In terms of the weight of the laptop holder I would use materials that are light to hold and easy to amend into place. So product would be bought as it is as apiece. So there is no need for construction when bought as a product. Due to the use of plywood and shelving pine the whole product would be light and able to move around. Aesthetics: my product is designed for comfort and easy use ability. It is obvious that all laptop users would use this product if you intend to use their laptop at night. Researching into the average sizes for laptops/ net books used by people I would, use this information for the sizes and designs of my product. The way that I would make my product best for the client is to make a way for the laptop to be used without the user having the laptop on their legs , so the laptop would be supported on a polyester stand which can change positions on a tilt. The use of briwax would give the pine and plywood a natural attractive finish. Environmental issues: the Environmental issues in relation to my product, are that firstly I am using plywood which is made from a lot of scrap wood put together to make a thin layer of wood used for less attractive products. Therefore me using this for my product shows how I am using reused wood for a purpose that will eventually look attractive. The other part that would make my product environmentally friendly is the use of a led light which stops the user having the light on so the keyboard can be seen. However the briwax that is used may effect the environment when recycling however the use of varnish would affect animals or humans if consumed. Function: with this product there is three major functions, each which help in their own type of way. The bed side table has its function in the way of being used as every bedside table would be used to store objects. The other function is the laptop holder part itself which helps the user to change positions to adapt to their comfort Safety: the safety issue taken into account in this product is the overall design of the laptop holder. I would even out the sizes of the corners making it as smooth as possible preventing any hard to a human in contact. The pole itself that would hold the laptop would be polished and rounded off at the top prevention of metal chippings harming the skin. I would also make sure the finish that is applied on the wood has soaked into the wood preventing any objects to slip off. All parts are nontoxic , which have been checked. Materials: The main material I will be using is plywood which can be difficult to use at times, due to its overall density and structe as it can give you splinters if mishandled. I am going to also use pine for the base of the side table. Durability: My product will have to be strong enough to withstand pressure when the is a laptop and excess weight ontop. Manufacture: the one off product would be made insuch a way that even if I decided to make it again I would be able to manufacture it in a quick and easy followed method. I would also make sure the parts that I use can be bought again, so I could remake if needed to be. Packaging: the type of packing that I would use for my product would be a box that would fit the whole product into, however I would take the pole of making it easy to fit into a carboard based box..
When looking at this design I would value it at a price of £30 evaluating it at this price is due to the use of materials which I wide with the use of both wood and metal. As we know oak is a hard wood and is more expensive due to the length of time needed for the completion of the wood. Design , Solid oak table with privacy draw. Looking at the laptop holder below we can see how simpleness has taken it terms. I can see people with a low budget on a laptop stand . However that is the reason why I have designed such product to aim at those who would not be willing to spend a lot of money but to still get the advantage of safety but not the comfort fact unlike the rest. When looking at this design I get a feel of modernism. I can see this product being in someone house that is new, with the latest technology's and gadgets. Cooling unit Steel legs joints which can be adjusted up and down the overall structure of the laptop stand shows how surreal and unique the design actually is. We can see how I have actually taken into mind about the type of material that I would use that is plywood, where I would shape the bottom and laptop table attachment to be like a quaver. This gives a natural and insufficient feel of the actual design. However I think this is a good thing as it has just came into fashion again, This product would sit on your knees whilst in bed with a low comfort mode, but still has fans implanted at the bottom to keep your laptop cool there is a jell wrist rest where you would prevent any strain to your body when using the stand. There are inbuilt speakers for loudness. Overall this product would have many uses if it was out in the market where the aim would be reached by the buyers. I am thinking about adding some of the characteristics from this design into my final design however I do no t no what I would choose to use as of yet. The valued price for this product would be £ 10-£15 hence the material/design Bent plywood Altogether evaluating this product I would say it has a unique sense to it and I would like to make a product like this however the challenge I would face is the shaping and use of oak. • The way that I would manufacture this product would be in 5 different stages : • Making a mould for the plywood that would be bent into shape. • all materials would be cut into shape, and sizes at the same time I would mix cascimite to apply to the plywood. • I would then make the drawer where the laptop would sit on. • Assembling all the parts together next with glue and other bonding agents. • For the last part I would apply the finishes which is varnish and briwax for the oak/plywood. And to buffer the alloyed pole. They type of material that would be used for this product is acrylic and would be made in big batches. Making it easier for the manufacture this was if such design was in the market.
Design Once again I have taken into consideration of design g a product that is in a less budget margin. But at the same time has its important use of the functions. its obvious and main function of this design has met the client requirements where it is fully adjustable and modern with safety components. This design is featured on a strong lamppost structure, where the base of the pole has most of the weight and is structurally able to hold any upheld weight that would be from the top Here I have designed a product that we would see in the market already . What I mean by this is that there are plenty of product that sit on your knees preventing any contact from the laptop heat to you and most of the time they come with led lighting for book reading and other purposes. This design came to my mind when I looked at crutches and how the work for adjustability and comfort. As we can see each hole on the pole is for different levels of height where the stand is connected to, the rubber soul at the bottom reaches health and safety hazards where there is prevention of any damage to any one or any think The stand is valued at £8 which is worth the price It would be very easy to make this laptop stand as there is not a lot of stages for its manufacture. Acrylic or thin pine would be an option of materials, also going with different finishes . Here I have designed the stand to be made out of thermo set acrylic where the stand would be made instantly without any complications or mistakes. Referring back to my primary research of acrylic testing we can see how acrylic acts to too much heat. The material that I would use for this product is steel piping with a chrome finish. Pine shelving board for the laptop table stand function where the laptop would sit on and a rubber mould for the bottom part of the pole to prevent any damage., This product would come as a self set up pack where the build would be easy and simple to understand. If this product was in manufacture it would be easy done in three stages . I would value this product at £25 which is reasonable hence the materials. And design . Personally I would not like to make this product but then again take some features from it such as the led lights which reach a part of the requirements, the intentions of these designs are to actually design one that is meets a certain budget or to make one that is worth the money with the use of decent expensive materials. Altogether I like the design as it looks very attractive and strong. I infer that there would be a lot of buyers . I would even think that business would take some interest in this product where banks may use it for their computers when dealing with customers when standing up.
Development All three designs are made form the same material which is plywood pine and acrylic for where the laptop would sit on . All these ideas came from the same structural state. Where plywood would be used as legged. unique designs have started to come into the open market these days as we see the classical old look in fashion in some areas of products. I must say that development is needed to help understand what I would change or what areas of the design I would mostly concentrate on. The ways that these designs have developed is from the structural design . Where the way that the laptop would sit on the plate is still the same
Final Design I have chosen this design as my final this is mainly due to the overall structure and functions of it. the material that are used for this product is *plywood *steel with chrome finish pipe *pine shelving *acrylic set laptop cooler pad. Overall I like the look of this design as so does the client we both have a n understanding from the research that we have seen how the structure would be able to hold the weight upright . By looking at the actual product we can see how close and realistic the laptop stand turned out to be. This product would have a good potential out in the market where there is no such design or made product out there . The feel and look of this design as a whole as a definition of unique. What I mean by this is that I like the way that the legs look crooked and unstable giving a surreal look. But also attractive at the same time • The way that I would manufacture this product is in a number of stages • Firstly making the legs and doing the quality checks at the same time. Making the mould then making cascamite to join the plywood legs together. This would be done where two sheets are applied together in the mould which is squeezed for 24 hours. • The next procedure is to make the bedside table where I would join the pine together and glues using a band saw/ drill and other cutters to cut the wood joining methods by using clamps to hold into place for drying purposes. • Next I would make the chrome finished pipe where I would weld it to the metal screw joiner that is screwed to the laptop plate. • Making the laptop plate from plywood and adding a thin pine structure making t look flush when not being used. • The final and most important part would be joining the parts together. Using techniques that would keep the structure upright. • The last part would be to apply the finishes which is briwax giving a shiny finish, This design shows the front view of the laptop stand where we can see how unique and fragile the legs would look I see this as a good look for a laptop stand. But then again it has a good structure that keeps everything as a whole and upright. At the top is where the laptop would be cooled on with usb extension options . This is a great advantage for the user as he would have a lot to do for components.
Final CAD design For my final cad design I have made it 100% identical to the final product. Identical to cam where the products are manufactured through the way of cad. So this is the reason why I would like to have my product professionally identical to the design. I have designed this model using a cad software which I entered the exact measurements that would be used for the real product. This is to make everything precise and accurate. In production of this design I decided to look around on the software to see what other features I could use to make my design look 100% real and identical to how it is as a product. production When I had designed the basic shape on Pro-Desktop, I decided to play around with some development of colours that are identical to the finished look that I would get. On the picture above right we can see how the legs are bent to give the elusion of the crooked structure. On the picture to the left I have used a number of techniques to draw the laptop cooling unit, it had taken a while and testing however it worked out to be ok at the end. I am amazed how good this software is to make a identical visual look of a product. The idea of actually using this software came from investigating how products are started off and then in their final ways of design where they are drawn on a computer to give a real look. It is really important to use this type of software to help with exact drawings that you cant picture in production. With the use of measurements you can make a visual product. Cooling pad Adjustable pole
Model design Modelling is the best way to test any ideas that you have in mind for a product, also to test and parts of structural curiosity. So I decided to model and test to different designs, and if they are good enough I may decide to use it as my final design. I am happy to say that after joining the pole to the laptop table it seemed to be a strong connection keeping the pole at a upright position when tightening. The whole weight of the laptop+ table is held by a screw. The final stage was joining the bottom part of the stand to the base of the rectangular box which was done by screwing ands with the use of pva. It was important to screw in the centre of the table keeping the whole structure upright. The first step was to cut my MDF wood where the bedside structure would be. Measuring 45cm by 35 cm I made a perfect rectangle. At the same time I decided to make a hole at the right side half way in-between for alloy steel pipe to be fitted through. The next step was to make a table for where the laptop would sit on. This was basically a sheet off plywood, with a sheet of clear acrylic placed on top. The second stage was to basically make a box, I had to repeat the first stage twice and measure out two side panels at 15cm simply done by joining the wood together with pva and screws. This was an important part where I had to make the bottom part of the laptop holder which had to measured and joined accurately as the whole support system depended on this. By fully testing the bedside laptop stand I had to place a laptop at different angles. This would be to test the stability and to see if the laptop stand is capable of the weight at different adjustable angles as the user would use it in bed. It is best to test this for my research As we can see the laptop weight does not affect the laptop holder so once again this is a good model. This stage was a bit tricky and at the same time a really good experience as I have never done this procedure in my life. By using different tools to make a thread inside the pipe holder/supporter. The aim was to make a screw type pipe tighter which would hold the pipe in a solid state. I feel really strong about this design that I decided to base it on my final design. however to make this modal design complete I had to do some testing, this was with both laptop and new generation technologies hardware such as the apple ipad which we can see on the right. We can clearly see how the laptop holder is in a good state at holding the ipad at different angles.
Modelling Modelling is always done on every product that is out on the market. It is done for quality checks and to get a virtual view of a product that would be out for sale. A model can also be a idea or a design that you may want to see in a virtual view. Even though the models look itself isn't attractable but it was to see what a actually laptop stand would look like also to see what type of structure I would need for it to stand upright. The materials that I used to make this model was pine, acrylic, small steel piping. So looking back at the client requirements and looking at the questionnaire I have followed it by using a combination of materials. The purpose of this laptop side stand is that the bottom part of the stand goes under the bed where it acts as a supporter keeping the laptop upright. The limitations of this model is that it is not stylish and does not have a solid look to it, which would make it less attractive and wouldn’t appeal to the aiming market, the adjustability is also limited. This model that I made was made in 5 different stages, From this picture we can see the first part of this production where I drilled a hole into the base part of the table where the laptop would stand on. This hole is made for the steel piping to be inserted into to join to the bottom structure. I found it easy using the power stand drill . In the last and final part of the model process I cut out a acrylic tray where the laptop would be placed on, at the same time I cut out a piece of MDF which was added to the main structure to hold it upright. The laptop stand at this stage is capable of holding a lot of weight but did slightly bend to the right when testing with weight. After drilling I cut my steel pipes where one of the steel pipes fitted into the other. After that I hammered them into place giving a tight fit . This picture shows the main structure of the stand as we can see it is stable without any weight put on the top. I must say that the structure isn't that appealing and looks simple .
Evaluation of laptop stand Evaluating from the beginning and to the end of my production: I believe that my laptop stand did follow thorough all the characteristics and stages that I wanted. Ever since the thought that I have of this design firstly came from the testing parts and to see what I wanted to use in the design of my product. When I researched into plywood and figured out the main purposes of plywood and its functions, I decided to use it to make something horrible into a product that Is unique and attractable. Firstly Plywood bending inspired me into using the technique as I enjoyed how you can make shapes out of wood which was a challenge. The second part that inspired me to use in my design was when I did my model the functions method the criteria and user requirements, and at the same time was attractable. So evaluating this I can say that everything ran smoothly in that sense. However there was a stage where I had to decide on the consequences of the situation. This was when I had to weld the alloyed piping to the connected structure of the laptop table. By looking at the first model I realised how to prevent any way of the laptop table falling over. The evaluation of my product asses how successful the product it is from the initial ides to the finished piece. Also to conclude and faults and changes that were occurred if I was to make it again in the future. Testing the product: When testing the product the aim was to find out the limitations of the design and weaknesses, and mainly the positives. • Testing of adjustability: • What I decided to do was test the laptop stand my self the way I did that was by using the laptop for a week also seeking the adjustability limitations • Weakness – • When placing a laptop on the cooling plate whilst sitting on a small chair it is hard to access the use the laptop keys as it is too high up. • The quality of the laptop plate is cheap and may not last long • -Strengths- • Fully adjustable • very attractable • Easy to carry around • Classical looking and strong structured To justify all this the I am pleased with the product I made if I was to make any changes I would prepare to make my own cooling unit made from my own plastic on a laser cutter. More use of electronic components would also be an interest in what I would like to change for this design.
Final product feedback testing After making my product I need to make sure it works out in the open market. To do this I would have to trial the bedside laptop stand to members of the public and the client. So I have planned to give the client the stand to keep for a week this evidence shows what the client thought of the laptop stand and how helpful it was for him. Overall I as the client think that this product has met my requirments and I am really happy with the use of the product for the week that I tried the stand I had no problems what so ever with the product, even though the natural design of the product looks aged it is very attractive and fits well in any room of my home. When having guests over they looked at the surreal laptop stand . I gathered a lot of feedback on how attractive and useful it is. I would defiantly consider buying one for myself. As you can see from the picture I had taken I converted the laptop stand into a normal classical ornament for display in my living room. At this point I found another use of it as a book table or just as a surreal ornament. Then again when I had guests over they kept on asking me where I had bought this product from, I told them it is a project for an a level student. They were very interested in the functions and design as it looks very natural and attractive. I asked them to look carefully at the product and estimate a price that they would pay for it. I was given values between £40-£60. most of all I find the laptop stand really comfortable. And I am very happy with the product and I'm sure a lot of people are. This picture shows the other potential functions of the laptop stand as it can also be a classical small table for your living room. From this angle we can sure see the surrealism of the design where the legs are bent and look like they are about to collapse. We can see how stable the laptop stand is in this picture. The stand had been tested at different angles and on different surfaces to see where the constraints of the holder was, however the user couldn’t find any. The bed that the stand was tested on was a teenagers high bed which is half a meter high from the floor. So he could test the full functions we can see the user using the laptop in bed comfortable. The laptop holder is on a tilt at the same time cooling the laptop making it easier for the user to type and allow the laptops purpose. We can see how the laptop stand can be used while sitting down on a couch /sofa We can see how the structure of the legs is in place when weight is applied on it. This screw part is holding all the weight of the above load. There is no signs of strain. From looking at the responses I am very proud of the product I have made and privileged to go through all the process for this project and hope to do well in the future.
