1. Principles and practices

This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started getting used to the documentation process.

Idea

I am trying to make a hand-crank power bank which is cheaper & faster to make than a DIY Power bank with batteries. The concept is to use unaffected fablabs as emeregency rapid production setups for these power banks in a future crisis.

Guidelines

• KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)
• Try to achieve 100% dependence on materials and machines available in Fablabs
• No need to look good or last for long term use
• Should survive airdrops
• Minimise Fabrication time & cost

The entire fabrication workflow will be designed in a way that it can be done within a fablab, that too with whatever resources is available within. This is important because there is no guarantee that we could source the materials from outside if the transportation system is affected. Since we have no idea what material will be available in which fablab at that time, I am trying to come up with two or three designs with different materials and different fabrication approaches as a failsafe. Hopefully something fruitfull will come out of this.

Please go to the final project page to learn more about the project.

Note

The initial drawings are just for reference. Most of the circuitary will be avoided in the final build to achieve the 100% in house goal. Key focus will be on production time & cost. I have a vison of avoiding off-the-shelf generators and make the generator also in house, integrating it with a planetary gear system.