INTRO

Wave check. Our midterm project is inspired by the precious time Walsh and I spent in Costa Rica over the Summer. We wanted to mimic the large crashing waves we saw at Playa Hermosa and the board we rented to ride said waves.

Dog with Waves (in costa rica)

Strategy

References a design we found on Pinterest, we identified that the main component of movement is the cam system on of the the shafts. The other shaft just supports the other side of the waves. Although it looked complicated, we were able to break down the parts and the task seemed much more doable. We also removed the gear system as we did not need the second shaft to also spin. We would also need spacers to reduce friction and also keep all the pieces in place.

Initial Part Breakdown

Making

To test our theory out, we made a low fidelity prototype using hand cut cardboard and foam. This very quick model allowed us to better understand the areas of potential failure. Our main problem with this model was the fingers falling off the cams and disengaging. To address this, our later iterations included guide rails to keep the fingers in place.

Low fidelity Prototype

Our first run with the lasercut pieces went quite well to our surprise. While not perfect, the pieces all fit together and did move in a wave like motion when spun. However, we were not pleased with amount of friction on the box and also the amount of flex that the back dowel allowed. We also decided to remove the backwall completely as it was not really needed and also interfered with our vast ocean aesthetic. The little slat pieces we had guiding the fingers to the cam were also not deep enough to actually keep them on.

  

Medium Fidelity Prototype

After realizing these issues, we moved on to our most current iteration. In this iterations, we moved from wood spacers to thin acrylic ones, decreasing the gap and with it, the span of the rod. This decreased the amount of flex both rods would experience and make for a sturdier structure. The spacers for the cam side also acted as guide rails for the finger pieces. This combination resulted in a sturdier and also more consistently functioning mechanical box. To address friction, we added large bearings the cam rod and also sprinkled a little wood dust to coat the sticky glue on the edges of the lasercut wood. At this point, our surfboard was also cut and painted and ready to face the roaring waves.

 

Current Prototype

reflection

While we were given a fair amount of time for this project. Walsh and I really did need every last minute of it, which we are very grateful for. The progress checks kept us on a good pace and we were able to make three iterations of our project. Although Walsh and I are pretty happy with how it looks now, we are thinking about potential ways to improve upon our project. One of the beams is still a little jumpy due to friction or something but that should be an easy fix. The surfboard is also a little small so maybe we can cut a slightly larger version of it. The overall process was definitely full of trial and error but I’d like to think that Walsh and I came out on top as better makers, designers, and most importantly, friends <3

Cost breakdown, total = $447

PURA VIDA