Idea change!

My last post was about the creation of a cardboard lamp. Since then, I saw that a few other students had started their projects in the same topic, and I’m not that interested in it anymore, so I’ve decided to go in a new direction. This new idea was actually the first one I had, then I went to lamp, and now I’m back. Anyway, it’s a cardboard laptop case instead.

I’m excited about this project because I think it will be easier than the lamp, and I might actually use it. I like it when art is functional.

Design Steps so Far

So I’ve started the design process with a mock up in CAD

the black pieces are styrofoam inserts that come in the packaging when the laptop is shipped.

The body of the box consists of a back, 10 inside layer pieces of cardboard, a front, a top flap to close it, and a handle.

I’m planning on making the top flap close with a magnet, and the handle our of some scrap fabric. Originally, for the handle I was thinking of gluing a piece of fabric between the layers, but that would create problems.I got the idea for the new handle attachment to the case to be hole from a photo like this:

So far I’ve selected my materials from the plethora of cardboard available in bins around the engineering center.

I also learned that the ITLL does not allow us to cut cardboard in the laser cutter, so I cut out a paper trace of my pieces to transfer to the cardboard and cut with a box knife.

This is how my design loop has gone so far:

Still to do

• cut out all the pieces
• find a proper kind of glue to get them all together
• make a scrap fabric handle
• do some decorating in steam-punk style. I like the steampunk because to me it represents both engineering and art. When I look at gears, I feel proud that I know something about how they work that other people don’t.

Things I could use Your Suggestions on:

• what kind of glue should I use?
• any suggestions as to how to make it a little bit water repellent?