MS-Elective-S1-Phoebe

Unit Question:
Why and how do people need to organize themselves or different ways? Or how do I stop getting detention for forgetting my homework?

I think that the unit question implies that there are a lot of problems that have to do with homework being belated. The unit question simply asks what sort of reasons should make people change for the better. As an answer to the unit question I would say that I think people should organize themselves in a way that makes sense for them even if it does not seem to make sense to other people. I don't get detention for forgetting my homework and it hardly ever happens. But if I did keep getting detentions I would reflect and see what I kept doing wrong.

Design Brief
I am going to make a mini desk inside my locker which will have holders in/on it to improve my space issue I have with my locker. The product is for me and will be placed in my locker once completed. This solves the unit question because I will be able to find everything I need quickly and easily I will be able to focus my mind on other things like remembering homework.

Design Specifications

 * Needs to use plywood, m.d.f., glue, and clamps.
 * Needs to be safe.
 * Needs to be environmentally friendly
 * Needs to fit in my locker width and length
 * Needs to be half the bottom shelf in my lockers height
 * Needs to be strong enough to hold my books
 * Needs to look nice and neat

Tests
Safety = the touch test Size = place it on desk Strength = place items in between the shelves. Looks = test appearance to others. Environmentally Friendly = wasted materials test Materials = are they presented

Guide Line Questions

 * 1) Are all the materials available?
 * 2) What is the thickness of the available materials?
 * 3) Is my product general enough?
 * 4) Is there a way I can find out how environmentally friendly my product is?
 * 5) Will my product be appealing?
 * 6) Will my product be able to hold the weight of the items?

Investigation
I know that all of the materials are available to me because I have checked to find that I can find nails, glue, m.d.f. (plywood) and tools I may need such as saws, hammers, and clamps are all in the D.T. lab. The materials were 3/8 of an inch or 6/16ths I have found that through measurement of the m.d.f. Now due to the technical error created during the production of the m.d.f. it is not suitable for this product. There for I am using 1/2 inch plywood. My product seems to leave me with plenty ideas and options giving me the idea that it is general enough for this project. I know that I will have an environmentally friendly product because I am using m.d.f. which happens to be a recycled wood. If I minimize my waste then my product should be not only successful but also environmentally friendly. I cannot know for sure at the moment that my product will be appealing but if I work to the best of my ability with the designs I have created I think that it will be. I know my product will be strong enough because I am using stable joints and will only be placing my smaller books on the project. My locker (shelf in locker where the product is to be placed) is about 12 inches wide and about 24inches tall the length of the locker is also about 18 inches with this knowledge I know that if my product is 12 inch cubed it will easily fit in my locker and be able to come out and into it without trouble. This is my locker at home. It is a real mess. The only thing I think when i look at it is that it needs more space. The two things my locker at home and locker at school have in common is that they are about the same size and they are both way too over-crowded. That is why I need my project.

Pros

 * 1) Follows the specifications very well
 * 2) Looks quite simple
 * 3) Uses a minimal amount of plywood
 * 4) Should be very helpful in fixing the unit question.

Cons

 * 1) Has lots of small pieces
 * 2) May not fit the materials in the holders
 * 3) May have stability problems
 * 4) Could be too simple

Pros

 * 1) Simple design
 * 2) Has a firm stability
 * 3) Does not use a lot of plywood
 * 4) Would easily fit in locker

Cons

 * 1) Is way too easy
 * 2) Has the problem of finding things that would actually fit inside the small shelf
 * 3) Shows a minimal level of creativity
 * 4) Does not show true potential

P ros

 * 1) Very creative
 * 2) Follows specifications
 * 3) Has a good amount of stability
 * 4) Shows good skill
 * 5) Would be very interesting and would actually push the builder/me
 * 6) Is small enough to be easily transported.

Cons

 * 1) Very difficult
 * 2) Has confusing sizes that need to be followed

Conclusion of products
I have decided that I will use number 3 because although it is probably difficult I think that it is the most creative and it still follows the specifications. I like number 3 because I find that it has the least cons and has plenty of pros.

Parts
Base: 10 inches by 10 inches of 1/2inch plywood. 2 bases needed for project. Side: 10 inches by 10 and 3/4ths of an inch.1/2inch plywood. 2 needed for project. Intersecting shelf: 10 inches by 71/16 inches. 4 needed. 1 of the 10 inches side needs to be taken at a 45 degrees angle. 1/2inch plywood.

My Final Project as completed.

Fasteners
Butt joints Nails and glue

Tools
Hammer Clamp

Coverings
Red and white paint Waterproof coating

Procedure

 * 1) Size the parts to specifications if it has not been done/completed.
 * 2) Take one of the bases and attach it to one of the sides using nails. The sides need to have the base on the inside nailed at the corner the longer edges of the sides should be facing length ward.
 * 3) Do the same to the other base and side set
 * 4) Nail the two sets together at the corners making sure that the bases are in-between the two sides. At the end this should make a square.
 * 5) Take two of the intersecting shelves and at the non-angled edges attach them using both the glue and nails to form a right angle.
 * 6) Do the same thing with the other two intersecting shelves
 * 7) Attach the two sets of shelves to each other so that you end up with a cross. The angled edges should be facing outwards and face the same direction no matter which way you turn the cross. Use glue and nails to attach.
 * 8) Slot the X shape into the square and nail the pieces together.
 * 9) Add a water-proof coat.

29, September, 2011
Today I got my parts and started cutting the edge banding for them. I felt really great that I had done that because at the begging of the class I wasn't sure what I should do and was totally lost. When I started on that I felt like I could actually start my project. The only change I made was adding a back to the project for extra stability.

12, October, 2011 I added the edge banding to some of the pieces. I felt really happy about what I did because I had missed some classes due to S.A.I.S.A. and this put me back on track. I made no changes to my design at this current time.

16th October 2011 Today I worked on the edge banding so that it is all almost finished then after I complete one more piece with the edge banding I will start to create the box on the outside. I felt really relieved to see that the edge banding was almost complete because it is very time consuming. The change I made is to make the box for the outside first and then create the inside. 18th October, 2011 Today I worked on the edge banding and smoothed it with the sander until it was completely level with the plywood. The wood is now prepared to make the box. I felt accomplished but highly board. I was annoyed that the process was taking so long even if it was necessary. I made no changes at this time 20th October, 2011 Today I started putting my pieces together. I glued the two pieces together of each set. I felt really happy because the project was coming together. I made no changes at this point. 26th October, 2011 I finished putting two of the pieces together so that I have the basic box now. I am excited because now I have gotten to the hardest part of my project and I am pleased at how it is going. I am considering not using a back but that is not confirmed at this point in time. 2nd November, 2011 I made a third part and placed it as the intersecting shelf. I was super happy to have the end in my sight. At this point I changed my plan so that I have only two intersecting shelves making an up-side down capital T. I also decided to turn it so that it is as a diamond instead of a square. 9th November, 2011 I made a last intersecting shelf and cut it down. I also sanded the box so that the edges were rounded and soft. I thought that it was amazing because I couldn't imagine that it could be soft. I have not changed anything. 13th November, 2011 I made the supporting structures and cut down the shelves and stuck them together. I thought that this was really cool because I was getting really close to the end of the project because as soon as the pieces are completely placed together they will be ready to be placed on the final product and it will be completed. I have made no changes from the last class. 15th November, 2011 Today I sanded done the pieces and prepared them for painting. I was interesting because I was really happy then I realized how much work I still have. I am only painting the inside. 17th November. 2011 Today I have glued the shelves into box and have started on adding the supporting structures. I was really happy because it was something different. I have made no changes. 21st November, 2011 Today I sanded the bottom of the project and glue seams so that it was evenly placed. I am enjoyed because I can finally move on with just gloss and it will be complete. I made no changes at this point. 28th November, 2011 Today I pulled the middle piece out of the project and sanded it so that I could paint it to make it more attractive. I was kind of annoyed because my project could have fallen apart if it went wrong. I have decided to paint the inside. 30th November, 2011 Today I painted the middle piece so that I could add the middle back in without any marks. I was happy because at the beginning I was kind of upset because I I had gone backwards a couple of steps. I have made no changes at this point. 4th December, 2011 Today I put gloss on the inside of the piece so that it would be nice and shiny. The reason I did this outside of the middle is so that I would not need to paint it as small spaces and make it easier. I was really excited because I haven't glossed before. I haven't made any changes at this point. 6th December, 2011 Today I added sealer to the main frame of my product. I was really excited because it was amazing that I was finally coming to the end of the project. No changes were made. 8th December, 2011 Today I sanded the sealer. I am happy because I am on my way. No changes. 11th December, 2011 Today I added gloss and the middle piece to my project. I am really excited all I have to do is fill in the hole and I am done. No changes. 14th December, 2011 Today I used gorilla glue to fill in the seam that is along the top. I am so happy because it is done but not yet dried. No changes. 8th January, 2012 Today I didn't do anything to my project. It's FINISHED!!!!!!!!!! Yayyyyy!!!!! No changes. (But I started working on the plan for Mannat's Bird House which she is letting Morgan, Marissa, and me join in on. We made the plans no changes so far.

10th January, 2012 Today I started to mark the pieces for the bird house with the others. I was nervous because we only have a little while before the quarter ends and I am no longer in D.T. We made the roof flat and changed the size to 8 inches by 8.5inches by 8.5 inches instead.

12th January, 2012 Today we are working on cutting out the pieces for our birdhouse. I was slightly annoyed because the team wasn't working well together today. We have made no changes.

Evaluation
My product has a different appearance to the original idea as it has evolved drastically due to my skills and thoughts on the product I have also changed some of the other aesthetics but the basic reason for the product remains the same. I can place my pencil case and glasses case inside the shelf. I have the correct size constraints that allow it to balance on the desk because the base is large enough to support the structure but the base is still small enough to place on the desk out of the way.

Guide Line Questions

 * 1) Are all the materials available? Plywood is available, glue is available, paint and polish and sealer are also available.
 * 2) What is the thickness of the available materials?1/2 inch
 * 3) Is my product general enough?Yes because it has different sizes for different items.
 * 4) Is there a way I can find out how environmentally friendly my product is?It is environmentally friendly because if I had used pieces of MDF it would have fallen apart and made lots of waste.
 * 5) Will my product be appealing? I think that it is and I have asked around and because it is a strange structure with a homely yet modern coloring people really like it.
 * 6) Will my product be able to hold the weight of the items?Yes it will be able to hold the weight of the items.

Tests
Safety = the touch test: passed soft feel Size = place it on desk: passed just enough space Strength = place items in between the shelves.: passed does not break Looks = test appearance to others.: passed they think it looks nice Environmentally Friendly = wasted materials test: passed I did not waste any of my materials because I used two pieces that would of gone to waste in a different way. Materials = are they presented: passed you can see the wood and it holds together yet it is not just too much wood