d light
a portable fire pit for creating warm experiences anytime, anywhere
Project Overview
I spent 8 weeks creating d light for ME103: Design and Manufacturing. My design goal was to create a fire pit that can collapse into a backpack while also supporting a secure and safe fire. It was difficult to ensure that the pieces would fit together securely while also making it very easy to assemble and disassemble. Throughout the process, I learned about prototyping, sheet metal machining processes, and flexibility while designing in the lab.
Processes/Tools
Mill, Bandsaw, Hydraulic Shear, Corner Notcher, Polishing Wheel, Bead Blaster, SOLIDWORKS
Material
16g Steel Sheet Metal
Design Process
Prototyping
I used cardboard and paper to test out my initial ideas for my fire pit. Through rapid prototyping, I could quickly visualize my ideas and test out locking mechanisms to measure the security of my fire pit. My insights through prototyping helped me sketch out the dimensions for my cuts.
Ring
I designed four trapezoid shaped steel pieces that can lock together to create the ring. I used the hydraulic shear to cut the steel, bandsaw to cut slots, and corner notcher to create tabs.
Base
At first, I wanted to create a round, arc shaped base. I attempted to use the angle grinder and file to achieve this shape, but I wasn’t pleased with the result. I pivoted towards a shorter, triangular base, which I prototyped with cardboard.
Center
I used the mill to cut slots for the central piece. I removed the vise, placed my steel on sacrificial plastic, and used strap clamps to secure it to the mill. For the outer slots, I used a .25 inch end mill, and for the inner slots I used a .125 inch end mill.
Finishing
I used the polishing wheel and bead blaster to remove rust and finish the final product.
CAD Models
Throughout the design process, I used SOLIDWORKS to help refine and test my designs.
A d lightful night!
To celebrate the completion of my fire pit, I invited some friends for s’mores. I could easily carry the fire pit in my tote bag, and set up and clean up were both very easy and safe! It was such a wonderful celebration to end the project, and it lived up to its “delightful” name.
