Abstract
The Parabolic Wax Melter utilizes 3-D printing capabilities and the energy produced from the Sun to heat and re-purpose crayons, candles, and other waxes. The wax melter is constructed out of common waste stream items and up-cycles them into a useful and interesting design whose main function is further up-cycling. This design was created in the Humboldt State University Engineering 215, for the client, SCRAP Humboldt whose goal is to “inspire creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community.” [1]
Background
Engineering 215 is a design class at Humboldt State University that, each semester, partners with a local community business to improve student experience and to improve the business partner. For the 2013 Spring Semester, Engineering 215 has partnered with SCRAP Humboldt, a non-profit organization that promotes creative reuse and up-cycling. What really makes the Parabolic Wax Melter different from some other designs is that it utilizes 3-D printing. Molds for crayons and candles were created using the 3-D design software, AutoCad.
Problem statement and criteria
There are to many common household items that are going in to the waste stream and no solutions that take advantage of 3-D printing.
Criteria | Constraints | Weight (1-10) |
---|---|---|
Aesthetics | Does not look like trash | 7 |
Reusability | Ability to transform waste into a solution | 9 |
Replicability | Possible to replicate at home | 4 |
Durability | Able to last 6 months | 1 |
Cost | Make as least costly as possible | 8 |
Size | Be mobile | 1 |
Materials | Greater then 75% recycled | 10 |
Description of final project
The parabolic wax melter encourages reuse of crayons, candles, and other waxes. The parabolic wax melter pulls common items out of the waste stream and continues to utilizes their designed/natural properties. The two main components of the design are the satellite dish, which focuses the energy from the Sun to melt the wax needed, and The 3-D molds which are designed to be unique and resemble local themes.
Costs
Use Help:Table_examples#Cost_Table.
Material | Retail Cost ($) | Our Cost ($) | Total (Retail) | Total (Ours) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Satellite Dish | 100.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 0.00 |
Sand Paper | 3.22 | 3.22 | 103.22 | 3.22 |
Total Cost | $3.22 |
Testing Results
enter results and photos
How to build
Discussion and next steps
The overall goal was to design something that can take items out of the waste stream and transform them into an object that can do another task. Our design not only pulls common items out of the wast stream, but it puts them to work in preventing other items from entering the waste stream. As far as application goes SCRAP Humboldt has already come up with the idea to use this design to teach children about reuse and sustainability.