Mindful Habit Diffuser

Introducing our ultrasonic oil scent diffuser, a minimalist device designed to enhance your night and morning routines. Combining soothing water sounds from an integrated pump and customizable light intensities, it helps create cues to build healthy habits. In the evening, it aids relaxation with essential oils and dimming lights to signal bedtime. In the morning, it gradually brightens to gently wake you up. Perfect for wellness enthusiasts and those focused on sleep quality, this diffuser blends modern design with digital fabrication, offering a serene start and end to your day.

Applications and Implications
1. Product description
2. Research/Design inspiration
3. What will I design?
4. List of components and processes
5. Evaluation
Invention, Intellectual Property and Income
Midterm
Project development
6. 3D Modeling
7. 3D printing
8. Laser cut
9. Vynil cut
10. PCB design
11. Milling and cutting
12. Soldering
13. Programming with Arduino IDE

Applications and Implications

Product description

The Diffuser is designed to transform your daily routine with its multifunctional features. It uses an ultrasonic atomizer to diffuse soothing scents, creating a calming ambiance. The device also functions as a nightstand lamp with adjustable dimming, perfect for winding down in the evening. Enhanced with a water recirculation system powered by a water pump, it provides tranquil water sounds that promote relaxation. Additionally, this diffuser can be programmed to activate at specific times in the evening and morning, helping you establish and maintain healthy habits effortlessly.

Who is it designed for?

It is designed for individuals who prioritize their well-being and seek to enhance their daily routines. It is ideal for wellness enthusiasts, those focused on improving their sleep quality, and anyone who loves the calming effects of aromatherapy. This diffuser is perfect for people looking to establish healthier habits through sensory cues, integrating seamlessly into the lives of those who value tranquility, mindfulness, and a minimalist aesthetic.

What will it do?

The diffuser will function as a nightstand lamp with adjustable light intensities. It will also feature real-time relaxing water sounds, created by a water pump, and will be designed to both look and sound soothing. Additionally, it will include a diffuser mechanism for adding essential oils.

Who has done what beforehand?

There are many brands on the market that sell oil diffusers. Some of the most famous ones are Vitruvi, Young Living, doTERRA, Muji, and Saje.

• Links to ther websites
• Vitruvi
• Young Living
• doTerra
• Muji
• Saje

Research and inspiration

I conducted extensive research using two insightful books focused on creating a healthier lifestyle. I began with Atomic Habits by James Clear, which emphasizes the importance of creating cues and building new habits through small, incremental changes. This foundation helped shape the product's design to integrate seamlessly into daily routines. Additionally, Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker reinforced the critical importance of good sleep quality and provided practical strategies for achieving it. To enhance the product's effectiveness, I also researched aromatherapy, identifying the best scents for calming the mind and body. This comprehensive approach ensures the diffuser supports relaxation, well-being, and healthier sleep habits.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The product is inspired by the principles outlined in Atomic Habits by James Clear. Applying the Four Laws of Behavior Change, the product is designed to seamlessly integrate into daily routines. To make it obvious, the diffuser's soothing light and water sounds serve as clear cues for relaxation. Making it attractive is achieved through its sleek, minimalist design and the appealing sensory experience of diffused scents and gentle water sounds. The product makes it easy by offering programmable settings, ensuring effortless integration into evening and morning routines. Finally, to make it satisfying, the calming effects of aromatherapy and the gradual light adjustments provide immediate comfort and relaxation, reinforcing the habit of using the diffuser regularly.

Link to the book

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Sleep plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being, as emphasized in Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, highlights the importance of a consistent night routine. Establishing a calming pre-sleep ritual can significantly enhance sleep quality. The project addresses this by providing soothing cues that help signal bedtime. The gentle sound of flowing water, the calming scents from essential oils, and the gradual dimming of the light create an environment conducive to relaxation and sleep.

Link to the book

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. It works through the olfatory system, when you inhale essential oils, molecules enter the nasal passages and stimulate the olfactory receptors. These receptors send signals to the brain's limbic system, which is involved in emotions, memories, and arousal. This can result in changes in heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, and immune function. It can also work from absorption through Skin.

Benefits

• Relaxation and Stress Relief
• Improved Sleep
• Mood Enhancement
• Pain Relief
• Cognitive Function

More information on aromatherapy

Types of diffusers

Inspiration

• Vitruvi Stone Essential Oil Diffuser by Urban Outfitters
• Cedar Aroma Diffuser Lamp by Cedar

What will I design?

I will design the PCB and organize all the electronic components. I'll also create the shape and individual pieces of the diffuser, ensuring they fit together seamlessly. Additionally, I'll design the packaging and plan how all the cables are arranged.

List of components

All the materials I'll use will come from either Amazon, Mercado Libre or Unit Electronics. To keep everything organized, I made a chart listing all the components and materials, including where I bought them and their prices.The prices are in Pesos (mexican coin)

An approximate budget for the project is $1700.

Processes

For the final project I'll do

• 2d sketching and 3d modeling
• 3d printing
• Laser cutting
• Vynil cutting
• PCB design
• PCB milling and cutting
• Programming
• INPUTS and OUTPUTS

What questions need to be answered?

• How can I convert 24V to 5V?
• How can I ensure the voltages don't combine?
• How can I measure the amperes needed?
• How can I make sure the water doesn't leak onto the electronic components?
• How can I make it translucent?
• How can I ensure all the pieces fit together?
• How can I programm the water pump and the mist maker?

Evaluation

• Application of knowledge in various digital fabrication methods to create a complete project.
• Designing an aesthetic and functional diffuser.
• Designing a PCB that works and incorporates the knowledge gained in the course.
• Successfully programming the Xiao RP2040.

Intellectual Property

I don't believe that creating a patent for every design or project is necessarily a good idea. While patents are a great way to protect your work and secure rights over it, for this particular project, I don't think a patent would prevent it from being copied. An oil diffuser is not a revolutionary idea, but its implementation, like in this project, can be lucrative and add value for consumers and the market. Since this is a course in digital fabrication and hands-on work, I believe my project serves as an example of what can be achieved by properly using digital fabrication tools. I am a big fan of open-source design, and I acknowledge that my design has room for improvement. I would love for people to be inspired by it and to create their own versions with enhancements. So, regarding intellectual property, I think the future of my project lies in continuous improvement and further experimentation with the design and electronics.

Future opportunities

In the future, I would love to create a brand focused on wellness products. I envision building a community on social media, especially Instagram, where I would sell this product and future ones. Additionally, I would share the design process and how I use digital fabrication to my advantage. I believe that fostering this community would have a greater impact than patenting the project, as it would engage and inspire people while promoting the brand.

Midterm and project development

I decided to combine both the midterm and project development into this section and revisit the Gantt chart I created in the first week to reestablish my goals based on the time I have left. To adjust my plan, I decided to eliminate the CNC machining component and crossed off the tasks I have already completed from the Gantt chart. Where green are the tasks I have already done and in red the ones im missing.

Project Development

I divided by different sections how I did the whole project.

1. 3D modeling

Before modeling I sketch the idea in Procreate for easier modeling later on.

Then I created a new Fusion 360 file and establish some parameters.

• W1:with lid 1mmm
• w2:width base 3 mm
• Hb:height base 60 mm
• We:width base's edge 7 mm
• R:radious lid 40 mm
• H:height 210 mm
• L:length 70 mm

Then I created a new sketch and using the line feature drew the profile shape as seen from a frontal cut.

Then I added a hole for the cables and the frontal buttons.

Revolved the base as well as the cable's whole and the buttons.

Continued by revolving the water reserve and added a new sketch for a ring to support the water fountain and the water pump. Made a cut on the side for the cables.

Finally, revolved the lid.

For the Water fountain I divided the piece into the water fountain and the tube. I sketched them in the same space but revolved them separately.

2. 3D printing

Once I had modeled the different pieces I 3d printed them. For the lid, tube and the water reserve I used traslucid PLA filament and for the base a grey one. Mostly all the pieces followed the same preparation in Ultimaker Cura before printing except for the lid.

• Nozzle: 1mm
• Wall thickness: 3 mm
• Infill:15%
• Speed: 120 mm/s
• Build plate adhesion:Brim
• Quality: draft quality

Fusion's file