Pizza Cutter Man Stage 5: Final Design

After we posted the last update we received some helpful comments to improve the design which we considered carefully. The first thing that looks obviously different is the handle, now designed to be CNC cut from wood and stained red. It will probably need a couple of rivets when it comes to production but we’ll see how it goes. The second major change is the use of pedals. This is to prevent the feet clashing with other parts and allows them to move independently. The sheet steel thickness has been increased to 1.5 mm and the spacing has been changed accordingly to prevent clashes of components. The pizza cutter wheel has been enlarged to prevent the feet dragging in the pizza and the rivet/joint lengths and tolerances have been calculated. Splendid fans, we give you the final design!

Next up, we have to make it……. uh oh

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Pizza Cutter Man Stage 4: Computer Aided Design (CAD) Models

As mentioned earlier, we scrapped the literal appearance of the early design for a streamlined and simplified cam-based design. To represent this design, we built the pizza cutter using solidworks which is particularly useful for articulating the joints and accurately calculating the sizes of each component in relation to one another. The design is now reaching a resolved state – still in need of minor tweaks and some engineering details such as leg joints it is on its way to becoming a product you can buy and use and love..

- Click second image for Animation -

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Pizza Cutter Man Stage 3: Detailed Poly Modelling

In our last post we created a Fimo model of how we imagined the Pizza Cutter Man could look but we also wanted to up the resolution as if it were a finished product. For this reason we had the concept modelled from Poly model (a hard-cast colourful resin) courtesy of Hsiang Wang. The piece confirmed the necessary ergonomic considerations but also made it clear that the piece has become too literal. That is to say, the design is more of a toy than a piece of modern design and needs to be advanced and simplified at the same time. What we have is a form that does not need to be 3-dimensional with the exception of the handle, and since the expected movement of the product is going to rely on cams, it makes most sense to change the piece to a 2-dimensional form. The model has also confirmed for us that the handle will need reinforcement and the diameter of the wheel needs to be at least 100mm to stop the feet from dragging in the pizza at their lowest point of rotation. Join us next time to see how we advance the design to a cam-based movement and 2-dimensional form!

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Pizza Cutter Man Stage 2: Plasticine Modelling

With the sketch down it was time to explore the 3D form of the pizza cutter man. Before rushing into complex CAD models which would involve time-consuming surface modelling we felt it would be wisest to solve the form with a sketch model in its lowest resolution. This is called FIMO which is basically plasticine that can be baked in the oven.. really handy for mocking up plastic products! This model was also useful for getting a basic idea of the ergonomics which need considering. The balance of the pizza cutter can already be felt as well as the points of stress when pushing down. We are now working on a high resolution model! We will let you know when it’s ready.

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Pizza Cutter Man: A New SPLENDiD Story

It’s been a long time since our last project, but you guys keep checking up on us so we would like to guide you through a brand new product story! This is the Pizza Cutter Man, based on the theme of British Circus, he pedals across your pizza (and backpedals again if you really want to annihilate some pizza crust). Shown here are the early sketches where we were deciding on the form of the product. We chatted about various themes and forms from an English Gentleman on a Penny Farthing to a Monkey on a Unicycle. In the end the bright vibrant colours of a circus ringmaster suited the larger-than-life image of our brand so our Pizza Man was born! Next stage is to make a sketch model… See you next week!

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The Award Ceremony

Against all odds, we arrived at the V&A brandishing 4 platinum plated handmade trophies, which were presented to the winning bloggers by Interior Designer Brad Ford who flew in from New York for the event. The winning bloggers from left to right are:  Melissa and Jenny from Puff&FlockJames from WeHeartKatie from confessions of a design geek and Arianna from Arianna Interiors.

Splendid are now available for Industrial Design bookings, but no jobs will be undertaken between now and July 2011 due to commitments to Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Please contact info@ideasbysplendid.com for rates.

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Enter the Trophy

Here are the finished MyDeco Design Democracy Blog Award Trophies, ready for the award ceremony in 2 days time! They will be presented at the V&A Sackler Centre as part of the London Design Festival for those who wish to attend.

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Plating the Trophies

We had previously predicted that this would be the most difficult phase.. plating. Ladies and gentlemen, we have plated these handcrafted trophies in real Platinum which is 50 times more expensive than the alternative. Here at Ideas By Splendid, we believe a job is only worth doing properly!

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Building the Trophies Pt2

These photos show the polishing and finishing of the bespoke metal trophies – hypnotic to watch. Just think, these trophies will be handed to the winners in just 8 days time!

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Building the Trophies Pt1

And so it begins… the production of the final metal trophies from the molds that have been painstakingly crafted and there’s still a long way to go…

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