Electric Knife
An engineering based product study and 3D modeling of an electric knife that makes it easier for everyone, but especially those with motor or strength challenges, to cut food, primarily meats and breads. The study examines the necessary mechanical components of an electric knife and models an anthroprometrically designed knife. A completed product teardown and in progress re-design of an electric knife, with the goal of making it more user friendly. We’ve identifyed that the main design flaws are the weight of the handle and shape of the blade guard at the end of the knife.
Overview
Key Skills & Lessons
Function Structure
Solidworks Component Models
Assembly
For people with small hands, it is difficult to grip the entire handle. For people with large hands, the handle is comfortable, therefore we hope to reduce the handle size to a comfortable in between.
There are not many adjustments to make - users can make minor changes to their hand placement, or which hand they hold it with, but otherwise there are not many features of the knife that can be changed.
Make the product cordless, it complicates the cutting procedure to have to work near an outlet and it gets in the way.
Redesign Goals
Overall Measurements
Fully assembled knife: 287.02 x 96.52 x 66.04 mm (LxWxH)
Handle alone: L= 237.0 mm, varying widths and heights
Has contours for a more comfortable grip
Power Button: 36.88mm x 13.39mm
Located on the bottom side of the handle
Blade Release Button: 10.67mm x 14.82mm
Located at the top of the handle
Affordances: The contour of the handle helps suggest how to grip the knife and the shape and location of the power trigger helps differentiate that button from the blade release button.
Visual Cues: The picture of the blades near the blade release button helps users tell what the button is for.
Affordances and Visual Cues
At a Glance
Product Teardown and Component Study
My Role
The Challenge
To teardown, 3D model, and re-imagine an electric knife in order to fully understand the mechanics of it and make it easier to use.
Product Teardown and Component Study, Function Structure, Affordances and Visual Cues, Anthropometry, 3D Modeling, Assembly Animation
Although a group project, we each did our own teardown of the existing product and collaborated on modeling and re-designing.