ESC 101 ENGINEERING SCIENCE PRAXIS I 20139

Detailed Design Project Memo

Conceptual Design Identification The concept design in question is the Tape Measure Pen. The design detail that is to be investigated is the design of the grip of the pencil, the dimensions associated with the grip, and the material used for the grip. Summary of the Recommended Detailed Design Option The recommended options are as follows: for diameter, 10.1mm, for length, 3cm, for shape, a flat surface, and for material, rubber. Context and Motivation Essentially, the grip of the pen is primarily where the user will keep his hands when using this tool. Therefore, when designing for usability, one key factor is the grip. Although this tool is multi-functional, its most fundamental use is as a pencil, and therefore, the way the user uses the tools writing function is very important. Requirements These requirements were made to reflect the requirements of the concept design report. A clear emphasis on design for usability can be seen in the concept design report, and therefore usability was given a high priority. Objectives: Constraints: Criteria: Friction of material (metric: coefficient of friction, higher is better) Cost (metric: CAD, lower is better) Must be symmetric, to allow for both left-handed and right-handed users (metric: observation) Must not be more costly than of the total cost, $40,as specified in the design brief (metric: CAD) Must not weigh more than the total weight, 150g, as specified in the design brief (metric: grams) Create a grip that has great comfort, ease of use, and reduces writing stress

Alternatives Considered In the case of the shape of the grip, the three candidates considered were: a flat surface, a curved surface, and a textured surface, based on reference pens that were in the present market. In the case of the dimensions of the grip, the considered diameter range was from 1.0cm to 1.5cm, based on the original design briefs constraint. The original brief that the concept design report addresses states as a constraint and criteria that the product should have a diameter between 1.0cm and 1.5cm, where being closest to 1.0cm was better. Although the design team dismisses this constraint on the sole basis that having this constraint restricts their solutions because it implies a pen-like device, since the

ESC 101 ENGINEERING SCIENCE PRAXIS I 20139 recommended concept design solution is a pen-like device, it is reasonable to say that the constraint is now valid. In the case of the length of the grip, the three considered lengths are 3cm, 5cm, and 4cm. The 3cm come from other reference design pens in the present market, 5cm comes from FBIs electronic fingerprint transmission specification, which states that as the maximum thumbprint height [12], and therefore, that would be the maximum length needed for the dynamic tripod grasp, which is the most common pencil grasping patterns [13]. The 4cm comes from the middle of the other two. In the case of the material for the grip, the concept design report states in its introduction of its four candidate solutions that the grip is rubber. This material candidate will be tested alongside plastic and metal in order to find the most optimum material. The use of plastic and metal as candidate materials are for the possible ability to create the entire case as one material in order to reduce cost. Detailed Justification of Recommendation against Alternatives In the case of the shape of the grip, Seo et al. [7] states that curvature of the object does not significantly change the coefficient of friction. Additionally, creating texture on the grip actually decreases the friction coefficient [6], and would also increase cost of manufacturing. Therefore, a flat design should be implemented. In the case of the diameter of the grip, a range from 1.0cm to 1.5cm was given from the original design brief document. The section widths1 from the Calgary Pen Clubs database [2] was used in order to find the average width of a pen. Although the pens that are referenced in the database are only fountain pens, this Tape Measure Pen design will most likely need to be larger in width than a common pen due to its extra features and parts, and therefore fountain pens, which are somewhat larger than common pens, are a good reference. The average section width was calculated to be 10.1mm. Therefore, the use of the average section width is recommended, meaning that 10.1mm should be used as the section width. In the case of the length of the grip, 3cm, 4cm, and 5cm are the three candidate lengths. Based on the fact that this Tape Measure Pen will have many parts and features, a shorter length will probably be better to accommodate for these additional parts. Therefore, 3cm is the recommended length, since the minimum is most likely the best option in this context. Additionally, 3cm is the grip length used in other pens in the present market, and therefore, should be relatively easy to use. In the case of the material of the grip, rubber, metal, and plastic are considered. In order to optimize for ease of use, a higher friction coefficient in the grip material should be considered because a high friction material will allow more work with less gripping force [7]. With a lower necessary grip force, writing stress would decrease as well. Figure 2 shows the three candidate materials and their friction coefficients, weight, and cost. The recommended choice is rubber. Although the cost of plastic could not be found, the friction coefficient of rubber easily outcompetes the other two candidates. Furthermore, with its relatively low cost as compared to stainless steel, and the fact that other reference design pens as shown in Figure 1 that boasts comfort uses rubber for their grips, rubber is the best option here.

section width: the width of the part of the pen where most people would grip to write. [3]

ESC 101 ENGINEERING SCIENCE PRAXIS I 20139

References
[1] "FAQ: Crestar Ltd," Pilot Corporation, 2010. [Online]. Available: http://products.crestarlimited.com/en/faq/. [Accessed 16 November 2013]. [2] "Database: Calgary Pen Club," 2013. [Online]. Available: http://calgarypenclub.com/Database.html. [Accessed 17 November 2013]. [3] R. Horne, "Pen Jargon: The Southern Scribe," [Online]. Available: http://www.thesouthernscribe.com/pen-jargon/. [Accessed 17 November 2013]. [4] R. K. Sivamani, J. Goodman, N. V. Gitis and H. I. Maibach, "Coefficient of friction: tribological studies in man - an overview," Skin Research and Technology, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 227-234, 2003. [5] P. F. D. Naylor, "The Skin Surface and Friction," The British Journal of Dermatology, vol. 67, no. 7, pp. 239-248, 1955. [6] A. F. El-Shimi, "In vivo skin friction measurements," Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 37-52, 1977. [7] N. J. Seo and T. J. Armstrong, "Friction coefficients in a longitudinal direction between the finger pad and selected materials for different normal forces and curvatures," Ergonomics, vol. 52, no. 5, pp. 609-616, 2009. [8] "Polyethylene (PE) Plastic," IDES, [Online]. Available: http://plastics.ides.com/generics/27/polyethylene-pe. [Accessed 11 November 2013]. [9] The Swedish Institution of Rubber Technology, "Rubber Handbook," in Silicone Rubber, Ystads Centraltryckeri, The Swedish Institution of Rubber Technology, 1996, pp. 93-99. [10] American Society for Metals, Metals Handbook Desk Edition, Metals Park: American Society for Metals, 1985. [11] Rubber Sheet Roll, "Commercial Silicone Rubber Sheets: Rubber Sheet Roll," 2012. [Online]. Available: http://www.rubbersheetroll.com/silicone-rubber-commercial-grade.html. [Accessed 17 November 2013]. [12] United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, "Electronic Fingerprint Transmission Specification," 2 May 2005. [Online]. Available: https://www.fbibiospecs.org/docs/efts71.pdf. [Accessed 17 November 2013]. [13] C. M. Schneck and A. Henderson, "Descriptive Analysis of the Developmental Progression of Grip Position for Pencil and Crayon Control in Nondysfunctional Children," The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol. 44, no. 10, pp. 893-900, 1990.

ESC 101 ENGINEERING SCIENCE PRAXIS I 20139

[14] All Things Stainless, "All Things Stainless," November 2013. [Online]. Available: http://allthingsstainless.com.au/stainless-steel-sheet.html. [Accessed 17 November 2013].

Appendices

Figure 1. Screenshot of a product from a major pen manufacturing companys website (Pilot Corporation). This Dr Grip product is promoted by the company as the product that maximizes comfort and removes writing stress [1]. It utilizes a soft rubber grip.

ESC 101 ENGINEERING SCIENCE PRAXIS I 20139 Friction Coefficient with Skin Rubber (Silicone Rubber) Plastic (Polyethylene) Metal (Stainless Steel) Figure 2. Chart of Material Properties and Measurements *Volume: if the grip is a solid cylinder made of the specified material 0.3-0.6 [4] 7.5-8.0 [10] 70.5-75.2 0.167 [14] 1.41 0.5 [5] 0.91-0.96 [8] 8.6-9.0 0.9 [7] Weight(g/cm3) Cost($/cm3) Cost($) (Volume* = (Volume* = 9.4cm3) 9.4cm3) Weight(g) 9.4-15.2 0.07027 [11] 0.66

1.00 1.62 [9]