• In use, the launcher should permit a user to hold and fire it with a single hand (two hands may be used to fire, but should not be necessary)

Task: Design and create a handheld rubber band launcher. Students will have two tries to hit a 12” target from 10 feet away. You are STRONGLY encouraged to practice and refine your design until it performs consistently.

• The only time the user may touch the rubber band is while loading the launcher

• Once loaded, the launcher should be able to remain loaded indefinitely without being touched

• Use the laser cutter to produce the flat sections of the birdhouse, then assemble

• Permitted materials: 1/8” Baltic Birch 

Task: Design and create a wooden birdhouse whose pieces remain assembled through the use of interference fits. Students should use parametric modeling software (Fusion360) to layout the walls of the birdhouse. Only 2D sketching is required for this exercise; a digital 3D model is not part of the assignment.

• Create a fully-defined sketch or sketches that can be used to cut the walls/roof/floor

• Use dimensions and constraints to:

1. facilitate adjustment of the model by changing dimensions as opposed to dragging sketch lines around

2. fully-define sketches so that accidental dragging does not change the model

• Turn a flat-head screw

• Measure in 1/16” or 1mm increments

Task: Using the Fablight, create a credit card-sized multi-tool to be laser cut from a sheet of

steel that can do six different tasks (turning a nut counts as a single task, even if you

have ten different wrenches on the tool)

Your tool must be able to do:

• Open a bottle cap

• Top is FFF-printed entirely from PLA in a single piece with no added parts or additional materials. For example, internal embedding of foreign objects violates this rule. Multi-density printing is permitted and encouraged.

Task: Create a 3D-printed top that can spin for a minimum of 30 seconds and adheres to the following rules:

• Top weighs a maximum of 30 grams

• Sanding, filing, or otherwise modifying the tip after printing is prohibited. Any surface of the top that touches surface on which the top spins MUST be as-printed.

• Tops will be spun on a 150mm diameter concave glass surface which will be available in the Makerspace for testing. 

All mating components must demonstrate a positive and secure fit that does not rattle when shaken. 

Components should be durable; in order to last hundreds of cycles, no damage or deterioration should be evident after repeated assembly/disassembly. 

Joints must be able to be mated and unmated comfortably by hand. The component must resist a reasonable pulling force before un-mating.

Task: Design and print mating components for all connections on the Gizmo Base you received during class.

The connection types are:

• Ball Joint - interference during assembly, transitional or light interference fit during use

• Cantilever Snap Joint - interference during assembly

• Annular Snap Joint - interference during assembly

• Dovetail Joint - clearance or transitional fit

• Hinged Door- interference fit between door and dowel pin, snap fit between door bottom and underside of Gizmo Base

Task: Using at least three methods/tools we have covered in class, create a Portable Minute Timer

The Timer MUST:

• accurately mark the passing of one minute

• ring the provided bell when a minute has passed

• fit inside a bounding box with a 12” x 12” footprint and 30” height

• stand freely (no walls or ceilings are provided, only a tabletop)

• be able to stay in the ready state indefinitely

• be triggered by one hand

The Timer MUST NOT:

• use electricity

• consist of >30% found objects

• be extremely fragile or delicate

• be touched or moved while it is in operation

Task: You are to design a small sailboat, powered by your breath, to race down river against your classmates. The watercraft should be a maximum of 7” in length, have a beam no wider than 4.5”, and maximum draft of 3”. The mast is to be constructed using a wooden dowel and stand below 12” above the water line. Sails are to be constructed of polyester film. The hull may have stabilizing and control features such as a keel or rudder. The underside of the hull is to be constructed from a single piece of vacuum thermoformed PET. Boats may contain a top piece that joins to the hull if desired. Weight may be added to the hull for stabilization, total displacement must be under 300 grams. Additional 3D printed parts and sheets (ropes) are allowed. 

Task: You are tasked with developing a functional prototype of an automated item or liquid dispenser of your choosing. The dispenser should be designed and presented as a pitch to investors to secure funding to produce your concept in production quantity.

The device must meet the specifications below:

• Fits within a 1 square foot cube

• Powered by battery/DC power supply

• Has an electrical, microcontroller based trigger that causes the device to dispense

• Is finished to a high standard and is a “looks-like” and “works-like” prototype