Abstract

This project introduced innovation in a concept design of hammer which is a tool used to
blow (a sudden impact) to an object. Some technical contradictions occurred in the design, which
made it difficult to find a solution except compromise. When TRIZ was used in the design,
things seemed to get easier. A surprising and almost perfect solution was found, and finally it was
put into practice smoothly.

Introduction
A hammer is a tool that delivers a blow (a sudden impact) to an object. A hammer is
basically a force amplifier that works by converting mechanical work into kinetic energy and
back. Most hammers are hand tools used to drive nails, fit parts, forge metal, and break apart
objects. Hammers vary in shape, size, and structure, depending on their purposes. Hammers are
basic tools in many trades. The usual features are a head (most often made of steel) and a handle
(also called a helve or haft). A traditional hand-held hammer consists of a separate head and a
handle, fastened together by means of a special wedge made for the purpose, or by glue, or both.
This two-piece design is often used, to combine a dense metallic striking head with a nonmetallic mechanical-shock-absorbing handle. Some hammers are one-piece designs made
primarily of a single material. A one-piece metallic hammer may optionally have its handle
coated or wrapped in a resilient material such as rubber.

Objectives
1) To innovate the design of a hammer to make it more efficient using TRIZ problem
solving.
2) To minimize the cost used to buy hammer using TRIZ problem solving.
3) To improve the components of hammer to reduce space consumption by TRIZ problem
solving.

Problem Statement
For years, workers have been struggling to bring different type of tools to their worksite.
One of the main tool used by the construction workers are the hammer. A Hammer is a
mechanical tool that delivers a sudden impact to an object. The essential part of hammer is head,
a compact solid mass that is able to deliver the blow to the intended target without itself
deforming and a handle, the part where the user hold the hammer. Commonly, hammers are used
to drive nails, fit parts, forge metal and break apart objects. There are different types of hammers
in use, they vary in shape, size and structure. Such hammers are traditional curved claw hammer
and Drywall hammer. Traditional claw hammer are used to drives nails well and removes nails
easily with the rocking action of its curved claw while Drywall hammer chops errant bits of
drywall and sets nails without breaking through walls paper faces. Hammers are categorized as a
heavy type tool thus creating problem for the workers to bring many types of hammer to their
worksite.

Inconvenient
Variety in the number of hammer needed to complete in a certain type of work causes difficulties
to the workers in bringing it to their worksite. As we already know, each hammer has its own
function. Hence, workers need to bring each of the type of hammer to complete their project. If it
is improved it can ease the workers job in bringing different type of hammer without consuming
too much energy.

Costly
Workers are forced to buy each type of hammer so that they can accomplish their job. This
causes extra money to be spent to buy each type of hammer. Thus the total cost of project will be
increased gradually. Buying less number of hammer with the same functional would causes the
cost to be decreased significantly. This would give the advantage to worker as it will cut the cost
to buy a hammer.

Space consuming
The average size of a hammer is bigger than other tool creates a problem which is in storing it.
Each hammer requires a huge size of storage space to be stored and with the variety type of
hammer, the needs for bigger size storage increases with the number of hammer. If less spaces
are used to store this tool, more other tool can be used to fill the empty spaces. This increases the
compatibility of the hammer.

Function Analysis
Subject (Tool)

Function

Object

Hold

Handle (Wood)

Handle (Wood)

Hold

Hammer head

Hammer head

Hit

Nail

Hand

Component Analysis

Air

Humidity
Handle (Wood)
Nail
Hold

Hold

Person
Hand

Hammer
head
Dust

Wall

TRIZ tools
1. Segmentation (#1)
Divide an object into independent part
Make an object easy to assemble and disassemble
o The head and the handle of the hammer can be connected and removed freely by
user.
o The thread on the handle ease the user to connect the handle and the hammer head
by twisting the head in a clockwise direction.

Function Analysis
Subject (Tool)
Hand

Function
Hold

Handle (Steel)

Hold

Traditional

Handle (Thread)
Traditional Curved

Object

Curved

Claw (Thread)
Hit

Nail

Claw (Thread)
Handle (thread)

Hold

Drywall

Hammer

(Thread)
Drywall

Hammer

Hit

Nail

Hold

Body

(Thread)
Handle (Thread)

Mechanics

Hammer (Thread)
Body

Mechanics

Hit

Nail

Hammer (Thread)
Handle (Thread)

Hold

Toolmakers
Hammer (Thread)

Toolmakers
Hammer (Thread)

Hit

Nail

Component Analysis

Air

Humidity
Handle (Steel)
Nail
Hold

Hold

Person
Hand

Hammer
head
Dust

Wall

Traditional
Curved Claw
(Thread)

Drywall
Hammer
(Thread)

Toolmakers
Hammer
(Thread)

Body
Mechanics
Hammer
(Thread)

Contradiction
The feature that we want to improve is the strength of the handle by using steel. However
the drawback of using steel as a handle is it is very heavy. So by using 39 parameters matrix, we
have decided to choose composite material as the handle. The composite material that we have
chosen is graphite fiber reinforced epoxy. This type of handle offers a blend of stiffness,
lightweight and durability. These handle also encased in a high polycarbonate resin. The addition
of this material around the handle increase shock absorption, improves chemical resistance and
offers protection against accidential overstrike thus reduce handle failure.

Wooden Handle

Wooden Handle

Steel Handle

Steel Handle

Composite Handle

Composite Handle

Partial Triz Contradiction Matrix (1 to 14)

Worsening Feature

Improvi
ng

Weight of
moving
object

Weight of
stationary
object

Length of
moving
object

Length of
stationary
object

Area of
moving
object

Featur
e
1

Weight of moving
object

15, 8,
29,34

Weight of
stationary object

Length of moving
object

Length of
stationary object

Area of moving
object

Area of stationary
object

Volume of moving
object

Volume of
stationary object

Speed

2, 28, 13,
38

10

Force (Intensity)

8, 1, 37,
18

18, 13, 1, 28

17, 19, 9,
36

28, 10

19, 10, 15

11

Stress or pressure

10, 36,
37, 40

13, 29, 10, 18

35, 10, 36

35, 1, 14, 16

10, 15,
36, 28

12

Shape

8, 10, 29,
40

15, 10, 26, 3

29, 34, 5,
4

13, 14, 10, 7

5, 34, 4,
10

13

Stability of the
object's
composition

21, 35, 2,
39

26, 39, 1, 40

13, 15, 1,
28

37

2, 11, 13

14

Strength

1, 8, 40,
15

40, 26, 27, 1

1, 15, 8,
35

15, 14, 28, 26

3, 34, 40,
29

+
+
8, 15, 29,
34

29, 17,
38, 34
10, 1, 29, 35

+
35, 28, 40, 29

2, 17, 29,
4

15, 17, 4
+

14, 15,
18, 4
30, 2, 14, 18

2, 26, 29,
40

+
26, 7, 9, 39

1, 7, 4, 35
35, 10, 19, 14

19, 14

1, 7, 4, 17
35, 8, 2, 14

13, 14, 8

29, 30, 34

40-Composite Material, 26-Copying, 27-Cheap Short Living Object, 1-Segmentation

Function Analysis

Subject (Tool)
Hand

Function
Hold

Object
Handle (Composite
Material)

Hold
Handle (thread)
Traditional Curved

Traditional

Curved

Claw (Thread)
Hit

Nail

Claw (Thread)
Handle (thread)

Hold

Drywall

Hammer

(Thread)
Drywall

Hammer

Hit

Nail

Hold

Body

(Thread)
Handle (thread)

Mechanics

Hammer (Thread)
Body

Mechanics

Hit

Nail

Hammer (Thread)
Handle (thread)

Hold

Toolmakers
Hammer (Thread)

Toolmakers
Hammer (Thread)

Component Analysis

Hit

Nail

Air

Humidity
Handle
(Composite
Material)
Nail
Hold

Hold

Person
Hand

Hammer
head
Dust

Wall

Traditional
Curved Claw
(Thread)

Drywall
Hammer
(Thread)

Conclusion

Toolmakers
Hammer
(Thread)

Body
Mechanics
Hammer
(Thread)

As conclusion, problem in reality can be practically solved using TRIZ problem solving
technique. TRIZ technique use the process of abstraction as it main way to solve problem. This
means that we need to use TRIZ to determine problem, improving feature, and impact feature
and lastly, come up with a solution for the related problem. There are many type of TRIZ process
that are available for solving problem. However, for this problem the function analysis tool, the
39 parameters and 40 inventive principles is used. We have concluded that the main problems of
a hammer are inconvenient, costly, and space consuming. All of the problems are solved by
applying TRIZ technique. The final solution that have been analyzed is by producing an
exchangeable hammer head with graphite fiber reinforced epoxy handle. This will encounter all
of the problems of the common hammer. So, it can be concluded that TRIZ problem solving can
be used to problem better and efficiently.

References
1) http://me-mechanicalengineering.com/different-types-of-hammers/
2) http://www.innovation-triz.com/
3) http://www.triz.org/
4) https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_92.htm
5) http://creatingminds.org/tools/triz/triz_contradiction_analysis.htm
6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIZ
7) http://www.triz-journal.com/
8) http://www.mytriz.com.my/
9) http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_92.htm
10) http://www.triz40.com/aff_Principles_TRIZ.php