blossom&m (2020)

A challenge: designing, prototyping, CAD, and digitally fabricating a mechanical desktop candy dispenser. 

Skills:
ideation, sketching, digital prototyping, physical prototyping, fabrication, digital presentation, photography

Ideation

Inspiration

I was inspired by Claude Monet’s Water Lilies ( a series of paintings. The paintings depict his flower garden at his home in Giverny. 

Processes

Cardboard, formcore, hot glue, benchmarking, 3D Printing, assembly.

Prototyping 

Manufacturing

I used SolidWorks to create each part of this dispenser. The printed parts are shown; the ratchet wheel with a shell feature and the pawl.
I sliced the STL file using Ultimaker Cura 4.6 and printed the operable parts on my Ender3 3D printer.

Final Product: blossom&m

blossom&m is a fun and stunning way to dispense your M&M candies. Just turn the flower, and out comes the candies!

Components:
Extension spring (1) - allows for pullback of the pawl
#8-32 machine screws, 3/4" length (2) - holds the extension spring and pawl in place
#8-32 nuts (2) - holds the machine screws in place
Vitamin water bottle top section - holds the M&Ms securely
Foamcore - to construct the box and slide of the dispenser

VIDEO FUNCTIONALITY: https://streamable.com/94i6h2