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Identifying the Problem

Who will you make this project for?

I will make this project for myself.

What do they like to do (sports, colors, hobbies, etc)?

I like to hang out with my friends and watch football and baseball. My favorite color is purple.

How old are they?

I am 17.

When would you want to give this to them (what occasion, birthday, halloween)?

I would get it when I finish it.

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Design Brief

Statement: I want to design and build a small wooden blocks toy for myself.

Constraints:

The standard number of blocks are 8
The blocks should 2” x 3” x ½” in size
Blocks should be made of pinewood
The blocks will connected by ⅜” wide fabric ribbon
Fabric ribbon should be glued and nailed to blocks
Blocks toy should have enough tension to work smoothly, allowing the block fall from to to bottom without jamming.
Apply a finish such as polyurethane (clear), wood stain, or paint should be applied. With a maximum of 2 colors/tones.

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Investigation and Research

What ribbon colors do we have available that may be relevant to your design brief?

Ribbon colors that may be relevant are purple, blue, pink and green.��What spray paint colors do we have that may be relevant to your design brief?

The clear finish or silver spray paint may be relevant to my design brief.

Find 5 different existing Jacob Ladder design and paste the pictures here. Circle the one that is the best source of inspiration for your design brief.

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Investigation and Research

Embed (On Toolbar: Insert→video) a Youtube video of how to build a Jacob’s Ladder on this slide. Make sure the video explains how to assemble it and describe how it is assembled.

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Attach 2 ribbon ends to the opposite top ends and the center of the bottom on the first block and weave them through in both directions stacking blocks on top of one another and attaching ribbons as you go.

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Possible Solutions/Ideas

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Best Solution

Criteria	Idea 1	Idea 2	Idea 3
Aesthetics	3	4	5
Function	5	5	5
Ease of Build	4	3	3
Cost	2	2	2
Time	4	3	3
Total:	18	17	18

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Develop the Solution

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Implement the Solution- Prototyping

Step ✔	Process	Tools needed	Material needed
1	Crosscut 3/4" x 7-1/4" x 16' board to 27"	Chop saw or crosscut hand saw	Either saw, long block of wood
2	Rip 3/4" x 7-1/4" x 27" block to 2" width	Table saw	Pre-cut block and table saw
3	Plane 3/4" x 7-1/4" x 27" block to 1/2" cutting off 1/16” each pass	Surface Planer	Pre-cut block and surface planer
4	Divide block into 8 equal pieces allowing for ⅛” kerf and cut with chop saw (each is 3” long)	Chop saw	Pencil, block, ruler and square measurement tools
5	Sand all edges and faces of wood blocks using 80, 100, 150 and 220 sand paper grits	Palm sander	8 wood blocks and 4 grits of sandpaper
6	Spray paint or use wood stain on blocks as a finish		Paint
7	Create a mock up using the same dimensions using cardboard and paper as the ribbon. Hot glue acts as nails.	Scissors, hot glue gun	Cardboard and paper
8	Assemble ribbon using hot glue for placement and then double nailing to ensure stability	Hot Glue gun and hammer	Prepared and finished blocks, 3 ribbons

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Testing and Evaluating

Used spray paint instead of wood stain to hopefully cover sanding marks and mistakes
Initially used light green and ran out, had to try and tape one side and use different color on the other sides
Dark green color old, sticky and bubbly- kept sticking together and got all over ribbon when nailing in the vice

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Testing and Evaluating Slide (Example)

Evaluating:�

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Testing:

Trial	Result	Notes/Observations
1	Unsuccessful	Jammed at 3 block
2	Unsuccessful	Paused at block 2
3	Successful
4	Unsuccessful	Jammed at 3
5	Unsuccessful	Jammed at 3

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