Design Challenge: Day 2
Welcome back to the ultimate Design Challenge, live from Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry. If you missed our blog about day one, you can find it here.
Day 2 is the big one for our world-class designers with a full day of inventing ahead.
If yesterday was about brainstorming, white-boarding and some tentative glue-gunning, today is all about the detail.
Expect some serious 3D designing (and printing) as the four teams get to grips with their life-changing ideas and our new software, DesignSpark Mechanical.
(9:30)
From the philosophical to the downright determined – our teams’ opening quotes on Day 2:
Team Baylis:“Pain is temporary. Glory is forever.”
Team Tesla:“Go, go, go! Time to build.”
Team Babbage:“Finish it to win it.”
Team Kao:“Another day of pure invention. Amazing.”
DesignSpark Challenge contestants share their favorite features of the tool.
(10:30)
Team Baylis: Have pulled a dramatic U-turn. Yesterday’s 3D printer cartridge concept has been shunned in favour of a new water dispensing invention.
The team plan to design a slow-release contraption for the lids of waste plastic bottles. We’re told this water-conserving mechanism will be a godsend for gardeners.
On DesignSpark Mechanical: “We love it and we’re getting used to it.”
Team Babbage: Are pushing forward with their bicycle-powered battery charger. And the mood in the camp is confident: “We feel empowered by working together and there is a lot of creative energy in the team.”
On DesignSpark Mechanical: “For free-of-charge software, it’s the best.”
Team Kao: Continuing the cycling theme with their integrated bike lock and alarm. Their invention will lock brakes and handlebars together with a conductive circuit, which will trigger an audible alarm when broken.
On DesignSpark Mechanical: “It’s pretty cool.”
Team Tesla: Another change of direction. Team Tesla, who were leading the pack yesterday with their household plug idea, have slipped back into procrastination mode. It’s early days, but we’re told they have a new concept around water filtration, which also involves waste plastic bottles. (Just don’t tell Team Baylis).
On DesignSpark Mechanical: “It’s already saving us valuable time and we can all see the huge commercial value of this software to manufacturers and suppliers.”
(11:00)
Team Baylis: Have sent their first prototype to the 3D printers! Expect pictures very soon.
(11:30)
Team Babbage: Are close behind Team Baylis with their very own 3D-printed prototype.