Bottle Opener

A.)

B.) The thickness of the plastic we chose (rather than cutting slimmer dimensions for the front plane) ensured that the bottle opener could handle a higher level of deflection. Having our height and base be equal also made our model strong if you compare the ratio to the equation. Reflecting on these elements which can be directly related to the cantilever physics explains in part why our opener was successful. Something in the equation that we could not control was young’s modulus and the yield strength of our given material acetal.

C.) We sketched quickly and abundantly in the beginning, and then started drawing more sketches that combined the best of what was in the first round, putting together designs that considered strength, functionality, and comfort. After considering an ergonomically shaped handle, we tried to cut down the bulk surrounding the small pieces intended for gripping the bottle cap. We did this and agreed on somewhere between it looking too silly and unlike a realistic bottle opener, and having areas that were too thin and risked breaking. After we figured out these factors, we were left to fidget with the length/distance/placement of the teeth that do the job of removing the bottle cap. While our handle and bulkiness continued to adjust throughout the rest of the process we were focused  on the functional part of the opener. Decisions were made by holding up sketches and models to the bottle and seeing generally how it would fit. Once we got our first acetal opener it was much easier to see exactly what needed to adjust to pop the cap off with ease. Our first technically worked, but required fidgeting and was difficult to place because of the drastic angle of the handle. Our second/final model worked right away, very easily. If I had more time I might work more at making the opener look nicer, either extending the handle for more comfort or shrinking it so it could be more convenient to bring around.