Laptop Stand Prototype
For the third assignment in my physical prototyping class, we were asked to create a useful stand for some type of device using a laser cutter and cardboard.
Design
For this assignment, I decided to create a laptop stand to hold my 13" Macbook Pro. Using a laptop stand would take some of the strain off of my neck when I do my homework at my desk.
Feasibility: able to hold up my 3 Ib laptop at a 70 degree angle.
To begin creating my laptop stand, I first sketched out (with measurements) what I want it to look like and how it would hold my laptop up.
After drawing out some rough sketches and getting an initial idea of how my laptop stand would work, I created a prototype out of an old cardboard box that used to hold my desk organizer.
After creating this initial prototype, I realized the kerf of the fitted slots was wrong. I made a note to measure out the cardboard flute more carefully when I made the final prototype. Besides, the parts/slots being a little loose, my prototype held up pretty well.
After getting an idea of how to build the final prototype, I created my design file in Cuttle. After creating my design file and struggling to laser cut it in the MILL for longer than I would like to admit, I had my first iteration built out of cardboard flute.
This iteration was sturdy, but it could have been sturdier. As shown in the last picture on the right, this prototype wobbled slightly and couldn’t stand straight when holding the weight of my laptop. This was due to me overestimating the thickness of the cardboard flute and designing the kerf/slots of the cardboard to be 0.25in.
Upon designing this prototype, I also realized that I didn’t love the sharp edges of the end of the laptop stand. The ends were too pointy for my liking as I felt they detracted from the aesthetic and jabbed into the bottom of my laptop.
As a result of this prototype, I went back to Cuttle and designed the kerf to be 0.20in instead of 0.25in and designed the ends of the laptop stand to be flat instead of pointy.
Prototype
When I redesigned the prototype in Cuttle, I cut the kerf/slots down to be 0.20in and I flattened the top of the design so the ends of the laptop stand were flat. The final prototype of my laptop stand was made out of cardboard flute and was 9in x 6.20in.
I created the prototype using to side pieces and two long pieces to hold the side pieces. I created the laptop stand like this to build a lightweight, sturdy model with minimal pieces. The laptop stand was built with a slope so that the angle is about 70 degrees. This is so that users can comfortable look at the laptop screen while also using the keyboard at a comfortable angle. The laptop stand has two pieces poking up at the front so that the laptop doesn’t slide down the laptop stand.
Analysis
What worked well about my prototype:
- Pieces could be disassembled and re-assembled quickly. The design is very lightweight and ergonomic. User can quickly throw in a bag or pull it out somewhere.
- The laptop stand is sturdy and able to withstand most laptop weights. It doesn’t show signs of buckling or collapsing. The kerf/slots are pretty sturdy with minimal wiggle room between the pieces.
What could use improvement:
- The pieces sticking out of the front of the laptop stand slightly get in the way of users typing on their keyboard. To avoid hitting the cardboard pieces, users have to hover their hands or work around those pieces.
- The pieces don’t perfectly stick together. There is the slightest wiggle between the pieces, but it’s there.
What I concluded about the effectiveness from user testing:
- The laptop stand does its job pretty well. It’s not perfect, but it can hold a variety of laptop weights.
- The angle is and measurements is good. Users can type with their keyboards and look at the screen without straining their neck too much. It’s a good height and good length as it fits underneath a laptop well.
- Users have to be pretty careful to avoid the pieces sticking up from the front. While the laptop stand won’t collapse if the pieces are hit, it does wobble ever so slightly due to the kerfs/slots not being perfectly fitted together.
If I had more time and were to redo this project, I would go through multiple iterations of this prototype and test out the kerf to get it perfect between the pieces. If I were redoing the process, I would conduct testing by laser cutting out smaller pieces of cardboard with different kerf measurements and slot them together instead of laser cutting multiple variations of the final product with different kerfs. This would save me much time and cardboard.
If I were to redo this prototype, I would redesign the front pieces of the laptop stand to not stick out so much so users could comfortably type with my laptop stand. I would also try using different material or prototyping with thicker cardboard flute. This would allow for a sturdier design to hold heavier laptops and more movement.
