Tuesday, 18th of October 2011 - CAD 4: Refinements

From the initial CAD completion, the group got together to discuss the use of the product as well as how it functions. One of the key visual issues that turned out to be a technical issue as well was the fan and its position in a levitative state. At current the fan was positioned above the electro-magnet though this proved to be a difficult technical challenge in keeping the fan in a steady position. It seemed that one knock would send the fan off center. For this reason the design was changed so the magnet support would extend up further and allow the fan to hang beneath it.

Render: Handing the fan instead of levitating it from below

One of the other refinements that was needed is a way of oxygen to enter the flame path. From the proof of concet (link) model, we can see that an air gap is needed for the oxygen to flow from the outside of the product, past the flames to heat up, then rise past the fan to spin it. For this reason it was decided openings in the glass casing would be made to make sure there was sufficient air flow through the product:

Render: Air flow gaps in the glass to allow heat to rise and spin the heat fan.

These opening will allow for a big reduction in air flow turbulence that would have happened if air needed to be drawn from above as well as exhausted that way. The group agreed that this form was one to keep and that we would continue to develop the behavior development of the product.