Toy Design

This disc launcher was an experiment with designing mechanical parts for low-cost 3D printing using fused deposition modeling (FDM). The toy is completely designed from 3D printed parts that snap together with no need for other hardware. Source files are linked below and as well as a demonstration video. I encourage anyone with access to a 3D printer to make their own!

• Source: CAD

I built this pinball machine during my freshman year of college at North Carolina State University. Completed as part of my Engineering 101 class, this project involved my first exposure to 3D CAD software and digital manufacturing. Having never heard of Solidworks at the time, I made a crude mock-up of my design using Sketchup. Then, seeking embellishment for an otherwise plain design, I weasled my way into the architecture school’s design studio to use their laser cutter.  My continued interest in digital manufacturing was largely inspired by seeing that laser cutter make light work of an engraving that would be painfully tedious to do by hand.