mission statement, design objectives, purpose and application, customer needs, deliverables, and sch

1
Group 1 Lisa Aversa Roya Ghazizadeh Kyle
Kenney Daniel Suarez
ME 423 Senior Design October 6, 2005
2
Project Overview

• Design an automated system - Cabinetron - that
  will make all the shelves in a standard kitchen
  cabinet easily accessible to the user
• This motorized system will bring out and lower
  the hard to reach cabinet shelves

3
Project Background

• The portion of population that have difficulties
  using a kitchen or bathroom without assistance is
  rapidly growing
• Independent living for people with disabilities
  has led to new norms for design
• The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

4
Project Background (cont.)

• A Special Interest Forum was held in Washington
  DC, on June 20, 1995, on the topic of Accessible
  Cabinetry.
• The demand for accessibility products will
  increase in the future
• These products will not just be limited for
  people with disabilities, but for all people who
  are of different ability, height, or age.

5
Literature Search

• The team researched
• Company and Manufacturer websites which have a
  similar product for sale
• Patents which include accessible cabinetry
  designs
• Standard specifications for kitchen cabinets
• Regulations relating to accessible kitchens
• It was realized that this is not a new idea, many
  different designs already existed in the market

6
Existing Models

• Researched and listed the pros and cons of each
  design and what could be improved
• AD-AS ApproachTM for the Cabinet
• Motorized cabinet assembly
• Lowers 20-inches

7
Existing Models (cont.)

• HAFELE
• Pull down shelf mechanism using gas pistons
• Installed inside the cabinet housing

8
Existing Models (cont.)

• Granberg Wall Cabinet Lifts Series 504 Diagonal
  Lift
• Electronically adjusts cabinets height
• An arc-shaped movement

9
Existing Models (cont.)

• Cabinet Assembly Patent (Patent Number 6367898)
• Cabinet assembly moves along an arc-shaped
• Uses a motorized hoist

10
Contacting Manufacturers

• Contacted companies to see if they would be able
  to provide some information on their product such
  as specs and user comments
• AD-AS Furniture Solutions of Universal Design
  Company
• Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Company
• HAFELE

11
Purpose and Application

• Make peoples lives easier
• Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Fair Housing Act (FHA)
• Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS)
• of senior citizens has almost doubled since
  1950s
• Approximately 49 million Americans with
  disability
• Demand of these population segments are
  increasing
• Independent living movement

12
Mission Statement

• Brief description of the product
• Motorized cabinet to increase accessibility of
  top shelves
• Key business goals
• At least 5 of the available of market
• Product ready in one year
• Target market for the product
• Primary market Elderly and disabled persons
• Secondary market Homeowners
• Assumptions and constraints
• Motorized
• Strong
• Use normal standard outlet
• Fits into a standard kitchen
• Stakeholders
• Purchasers and users
• Wholesalers, retailers, and distributors

13
Design Objectives

• Motorized cabinet assembly
• Improve upon existing designs
• Incorporate customer needs
• Consider design for manufacturability
• Minimize components
• Lower cost of the unit
• Consider
• Cabinet body
• Movement
• Safety
• Controls

14
Customer Needs

• Looked at Epinions.com for reviews
• Survey was given out to 20 individuals of
  different heights, ages, and abilities
• Some stated needs
• Easy controls
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Fits into a standard kitchen
• Safety
• Strength and durability
• Smooth movement / Minimized jerk

15
Conceptual Design 1

• Interior Motorized Shelf Assembly
• Fits into any current cabinet
• Lose too much space inside
• Does not support much weight

16
Conceptual Design 2

• Cabinet on Track with Motorized Hoist
• Roller bearings guide the cabinet down the tracks
  
• Motorized hoist controls the movement
• Cabinet cannot be pulled securely against the
  wall
• Stress on the cable and tracks will be large and
  could cause warping

17
Final Selection

• Cabinet guided by a 4-bar mechanism with a
  motorized hoist
• Two 4-bar mechanisms keep bottom of the cabinet
  parallel to countertop
• Motorized hoist controls movement of cabinet
• Cable under constant tension
• There will be space behind the cabinet because of
  the hoist

18
Specifications
19
Cabinet Body

• 30H x 24W x 12D
• ¾ wood oak
• Can be either 2 or 3 shelves

20
Movement

• Motorized Hoist
• Winch Cable Connected to Cabinet
• Guide Arms
• Contact Switch Detects Final Position

21
Controls

• Easy to Reach Controls
• Simple to Use
• Momentary Switch
• Adjust height only as much as needed
• Lowers cabinet only when button is held down

22
Safety

• Safety Concerns
• Included Safety features
• Obstacle Detector Detects anything under
  cabinet
• Contact Switches Keep motor from working past
  limit of motion
• Mechanical Brakes Stop cabinet if cable breaks

23
CAD Design - Cabinet Up
24
CAD Design - Cabinet Down
25
Bill of Materials

• Wood - Redwood Oak
• Motors Dayton AC Gearmotor
• Sensors - Devantech SRF04, Contact Switches
• Hinges Polished Brass Cabinet Hinges
• Cable and Spool
• Guide Arms

26
Expected Expenses
27
Major Problems Anticipated

• Attaching the cabinet assembly to the wall so
  that the weight is evenly distributed
• Minimizing parts, making it compact and
  aesthetically pleasing
• Motorizing the cabinet assembly (Power, noise,
  maintenance, etc.)
• Safety sensors and mechanical brakes
• Keep the shelves of the cabinet leveled and stop
  them from tipping
• Having a smooth movement and eliminating jerk

28
Project Deliverables

• Detailed design for the cabinet assembly
• 3-D CAD modeling
• Solidworks drawings
• Analysis determining the strength
• Complete bill of material
• Proposed budget
• Economic model to determine feasibility and
  profitability

29
Schedule
30
Conclusion

• 4-bar hoist powered cabinet is the best design
• Extensive safety feature will be a selling point
  for our product
• Highly competitive market
• Making cabinets affordable will increase the
  market substantially
• Design will continue to evolve as project goes on

31
Questions?