Top 5 Specifications:
- Portability: When originally thinking of the idea for my main project, I thought of where and when I would like to use the boot warmer. I decided I’d potentially use the device in the car, at mountain houses (Airbnb/friends), and at my home. Since I may be taking the device in the car, I realized I need the device to be as small and as portable as I can possibly make it. This works well for my project because I believe I will get slightly better heat transfer and a higher quantity of mass flow through the system the smaller the enclosure becomes.
- Easy to Use: Ease of use is very important to my project. The goal is for anyone to be able to turn the device on and off without confusion. This important to me because I would love for my family and friends to be able to use the device without frustration or a tutorial from me. As of now, my design turns my device on simply through plugging it in through the wall.
- Safety: This aspect became a concern after reading up on how excessive heat affects the liner of the ski boot. If the liner absorbs too much heat over time, it is susceptible to damage and deformation. I also need to ensure my device has no potential for explosions or fires, as I have a heating element in my system. To tackle both of these issues, I designed my system to run on an inline timer. After experimentation and hand calculations, I will find the optimal time to set for shut off – ensuring safe use for the user and boot.
- Effective: I would like my boot warmer to be a quick and easy way to warm boots. My goal is to have my device run for 30 minutes or less per use, making it an energy efficient and effective way to dry and warm boots after a ski day.
- Retro 80s Relic: The goal for my aesthetic is to make the final product look like something you’d find in your grandma’s basement or from a storage closet of an old cabin bought in the 80s. My main aesthetic is 80s ski retro, which brings me back to when I was a kid exploring his grandparents’ basement – looking for relics of the past. I want to feel the same feeling I used to feel when discovering a vintage toy or invention.
Top 5 Constraints:
- Time: Time is probably my biggest constraint as of now. This will probably affect aesthetics the most because this is the last aspect of the project to work on. I plan on sticking to my manufacturing schedule as close as possible so this isn’t an issue.
- Money: I am attempting to do this on a relatively low budget, constraining me to use a lower quality fan/heater, timer, and AC/DC converter. Hopefully these items perform above their price!
- Supplies: Since I am on a budget, I plan on using scrap wood to build my enclosure. This may throw off my aesthetic, sizing, and time I have. I plan on gathering a bunch of wood over the next two weeks so I have flexibility with which pieces I choose.
- Skills: I am not the greatest woodworker in the world and I forgot how to use a lot of the saws/cutting tools in the idea forge. I am going to ask one of the ITLL employees for advice and a saws refresher.
- Work-Space: Last project, I struggled building my entire project in my living room. Although this project is a bit smaller, it’s definitely harder working without a proper workbench, clamps, etc. If this becomes an annoyance like it did last time, I may just work in it in the project depot in the ITLL.
2 Comments. Leave new
Hi Ben,
I really like your project idea, and think that your specs and requirements are really spot on. I really like how you tied the history of skiing to your aesthetic. One suggestion I have might be to run the electronics using a 12v system, with a small inverter for when you use it in your house – this could let you run the heater in your car on the way up to the mountain.
The retro 80s vibe is such a unique direction—feels both personal and functional. One suggestion: it could be helpful to explain how you’ll balance that vintage look with modern safety features. Also, what part of the design are you most excited to see come together first?