Focus on the journey. Not the destination.
Project Brief
The Rundown
The Details
Fabricate a free-standing candy dispenser without adhesive that can be actuated with one hand.
Inspired by my childhood memories of watching candy fall through colorful gum-ball machines, I chose to make my dispenser completely out of see-through acrylic and organic shapes. To use, simply load your candy through the top funnel, push the lever up, and watch your candy sliiiide to its destination. Born out of joy, memory, and nostalgia, this candy dispenser is all about enjoying the journey (almost) as much as the destination.
Laser cutter
3D CAD - Autodesk Fusion 360
Heat inserts, machine & shoulder screws, hex nuts
The Demo
Design for Manufacturability
Prototyping
After deciding on my design idea, I created a prototype out of foam core to make sure my idea would work and to work out any important considerations that would make or break my design.
CAD
I then utilized CAD to create a hi-fidelity model of my design and to see how all of my parts would fit together. I then experimented with material and color to see what options would give the most fun effect when using the candy dispenser in real time. I chose translucent and vibrant colors because I wanted users to to enjoy the satisfaction and joy of watching their candy fall to its final destination.
Assembly
Using my CAD, I laser cut all pieces and preliminarily put them together to make sure the dispenser looked as I intended.
Finishing touches
To finish, I assembled the dispenser using heat inserts, hex nuts, and a linear loaded spring. I tested the dispenser by loading the candies into the top funnel and turning the green lever to dispense them to the bottom bucket. I made a few tweaks to make sure everything was running smoothly, cleaned off the acrylic, and it was ready!
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Final Thoughts
Building this candy dispenser was a fun challenge to think critically about how to express myself through my designs while sticking to strict guidelines.
As this was my first experience using CAD, I struggled with turning my ideas into a reality and felt really frustrated at times when I couldn’t figure out why my lines wouldn’t connect! But through this process, I learned a valuable lesson about ‘playing’ through challenges, keeping a light heart about things, and asking for help when needed. I am now confident in my abilities to CAD multiple kinds of designs, operating laser cutters, and understanding what kinds of hardware can be used in different scenarios. I’m excited to put these new skills to use in future projects!