Mass Customization

For this weeks project I wanted to iterate on my previous project, so I produced 3 different sizes of my tree storage box. I made a small, medium and a large size of my box and went with heart shaped handles.

I used Fusion 360 so that I could take advantage of the “history” toolbar that the software has. I also used the parameters tool creating user parameters giving them names based on the sides and adjusted the units. Then I replaced the ones I created in my sketches with the created user parameters. This allowed me to quickly type into the dialogue box what I added into the parameters so that I got the same dimensions and thickness on all the different sides of my box. The parameters tool also allowed me to control and change the sizes by only changing the numbers in the tool box and the different components. By giving different sides names I could efficiently change the sizes based on what I inserted as the different parameters.

The largest size is for a large shelf, the medium box is for a smaller shelf to store smaller things, and the smallest box is for storing small things, like pens for instance. The medium box was the one I created last week, so I made the small box 1/3 smaller than the medium box and the large box 1/3 larger than the medium box.

For me the most challenging part of making this model was adjusting the heartshape so that it would have the same relationship to the different dimensions of every box. I ended up manually calculating the dimensions to find the right size and placement, and manually moved the heart shape to the calculated placement. I could not figure out if there is an easier way to do it.