For this project, we were given the task to redesign something we use every day. I have a bunch of earrings that I constantly lose, so I decided to design an earring tree that I can use to organize all of my jewelry. I took some inspiration from the jewelry holders at stores that spin to allow easier access to all of the options. I took a similar route in making each of the layers to my holder able to rotate. I also wanted it to reflect something about me, rather than just being a bland
The Original Plan
Top of the Tree
I had a general idea of what I wanted the shape of the top to be; the only issue was how to actually achieve this look. I messed around a bunch with different tools, and ended up making just a basic octagon and using the draft tool to make each of the edges angled, then used the plane tool to make sketch-able surfaces, then just sketched trapezoids on those planes.
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Middle Post
The middle of the tree is a pretty simple design; just three differently sized cylinders stacked on top of one another. This will allow me to design rings that will rest on the ridges, allowing them to spin freely without sliding all the way down the middle post.
After I printed it, I realized that the post looked much larger compared to the rest of the pieces, so I decided to make it thinner. I started making a new one from scratch, since it's pretty easy to make; I made the base 1.5 inches wide, and made each of the other two cylinders a quarter inch smaller than the one below it.
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Top Ring
Originally, this was the bottom ring, but I decided it would look better on top. This one is designed to hold necklaces and bracelets. Both of the jewelry-holding rings have small indents that allow for post to connect them with the middle rings, which will allow these to rotate.
I started with a simple sketch of two octagons, a quarter inch apart, then extruded the space between them, to create the base for this ring.
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The Bottom Ring
The Rotation Rings
Each of these rings have holes going all the way through them for the posts, and are specifically designed so the fit on their designated layer, without falling all the way down. This will allow both layers to spin, which means I can look at all of my jewelry without having to move the entire tree.
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Bottom RingTop Ring |
The Final Product
Summary
I am very proud of this project, and I think it really helped be gain a better grasp on all the things Inventor can do. Additionally, I learned that no matter how complete you think a project is, there will always be a flaw with it that needs to be worked out in another prototype. This was a good project that made us think and be creative with something that we would never have even thought about.