Engineering Multi-Tool
Major project - 05/06/2015
Lucien Housego
Design Situation
As the World around us becomes increasingly volatile and as the technology of nuclear weapons improves, along with our beautiful yet complex earth and
our rapidly changing climate, we know that life as we know it is not a stable thing, but an object supported by millions of tiny strings, each sharing the load.
We know that the world is complex and that in the blink of an eye your life can be turned upside down. These are things that we cannot change or predict,
we can only prepare for them so we come out the other end with the best possible outcome. We have seen the horrors of Nuclear war, the devastation of a
natural disaster and the aftermath of a man made disaster and the multi tool designed by the Stacks Limited group aims to aid you as best it can if you
were in any one of these situations. The aftermath of an urban disaster is not a hospitable place however if your trapped you need a tool you can rely on to
complete the tasks you will likely face, and this is what we have tried to achieve with the urban survival multi tool.
Primary needs
- Cutting device, tightening device, screw
bits
secondary needs
- Fire starter, clip
Design Brief
The Multitool had to allow someone to survive in an urban environment in a disaster situation and so the tools
included needed to be appropriate for this situation and environment as set by the design brief. Therefore a knife
was included (a knife serves as a multifunctional cutting tool, with hundreds of other useful functions), an
adjustable spanner (used to tighten and unscrew bolts, can be used as a lever also), and two philips head
screwdrivers and a flathead screwdriver held in by magnetic force (knife also serves as a flathead screw driver for
smaller screws), a flint (used to start fires by striking with blade, also held in with magnetic force, replaceable) and
finally a clip (to allow the tool to be clipped to a belt loop for ease of storage, also useful as a carabiner).
Concepts
three initial concepts were developed and pursued to create the best possible. These included two multitool concept which is
similarly shaped to the chosen design, as well as one variation. The first design was lacking stability in the materials and layout
whilst the second had some good elements which where approved upon for the final design. The third design was abandoned
as it was missing serious key elements. Ultimately this process aided the overall quality of my design improving its functionality.
Materials
the main body of the multitool (part 12) was constructed from aluminium. this material was chosen for this part of the multi tool as it is light, however strong and durable, as well as
being resistant to rust and some other forms off corrosion. It is a none ferrous metal and so it will not be affected by magnetic fields. the body was painted black as to avoid shining or
reflecting light. aluminium is also cheaper than its other metal counterparts and so the clip assembly (parts numbers 3 and 4), as well as the spindle for the adjustable spanner (part
number 10) where also made from aluminium.
The knife was constructed from stainless steel, as it is a very strong metal which can easily be sharpened and as it is stainless it is resistant to oxidisation. The locking plate for the
knife (part number 2) all so had to made from stainless steel, swell as the plates from the adjustable spanner (part number 9) as these parts required a durable and strong material.
The magnetic holding strips for the screw bits and flint (parts numbers 5, 6, 7 and 8) where all made from the highly magnetic substance, Neodymium, which will allow the screw bits
and flint to he held in place easily without significant difficulty removing them for use.
Parts List
Part name
Material
Quantity
1 Knife Blade
Stainless Steel
1
2 Knife Lock
Stainless Steel
1
3 Clip
Aluminium
1
4 Clip Pin
Stainless Steel
1
5 Magnetic Holder
Neodymium
3
8 Magnetic Holder
Neodymium
1
9 Spanner Plate
Stainless Steel
2
10 Spanner Spindle
Aluminium
1
11 Spindle Pin
Stainless Steel
1
12 Body
Aluminium
1
Force Calculations
The mean maximum torque strength determined by the National Aeronautics and space
administration (NASA) is determined to be 17.39 Nm (NASA, 2015).
Torque = Radius x Force x Sin(90)
T = (90x10-3 ) x (17.39) x Sin(90)
T = 1.5651
Torque = 1.57 Nm
Therefore the tool can provide 1.57Nm of torque with the screwdriver function, as well as the
adjustable spanner function (both tools with the same radius - opposite ends), enough for any
likely bolt or screw.
Evaluation
Overall the multitool does provide solutions for the problems raised in the design situation and the design brief.
After presenting my three concepts to the board for approval concerns with my design where found, solutions
determined and then implemented, which made my product overall a higher quality, with more practical use.
This process along with the market research conducted (which was also presented to the board for feedback)
helped to improve my product.
The multi tool does serve its purpose as an urban survival tool and has the required tools set by the design
brief, including a knife, an adjustable spanner, two philips head screwdrivers and a flathead screwdriver (held in
by magnetic force), a flint and a clip. Therefore the product is a success in all areas, with the exception of
market success as it is still in the prototype phase.
The multi-tool could be improved with additional time to research and further improve upon the design. Extra
features could be added as well as components that have not been adequately researched due to time
constraints.
Research
The function of this product was to aid an individual in an urban survival scenario and so suitable materials had to be chosen. The implements of the scenario where that the cutting tool had to be made from a strong
substance, the body of the tool needed to be light in weight, as well as being durable. The product also had to be reliable particularly as it is designed for situations where a persons life may depend upon it. The conditions
it is likely to be used in are not always favourable (i.e. swampland, urban decay or seaside) and so the materials must also be resistant to this, for example resistant to iron oxidisation (rust). the shape of the design was
also important to its functionality and so the multitool is curved with a ergonomic design, as well as being small and easily able to fit in a conventional pocket.
The product will need to be manufactured in stages, with individual parts being made in metal dye cast’s. The parts will then be cleaned and polished, before being assembled together. the finish will be a dull metal finish
on all stainless steel pieces, and the aluminium pieces will be painted a black, grey or red colour (available colour options). the tool will come in a cardboard box will a soft silk lining on the inside over a foam rest to
prevent the tool from being damaged during transportation. inside the box will also be an instruction manual, serial number and warranty information (additional services will be provided on the website). The dimensions of
the tool allow for a small package, as well as making the tool appropriate for all ages and hand sizes (+12). the cost of the tool will depend a number of factors including the cost of the dye casts and setting up factors, but
the overall cost of the tool to produce if over a million units are produced is likely to be between $20 - $40 and the price of the tool will likely be between $50 - $70. The tool is fairly safe in design as the only concern is the
knife which is safely concealed in the tool and will not fall out. this means the tool has the same safety rating as a swiss army knife or letterman multi tool.
Bibliography
Gear Hungry, (2013). CRKT Guppie Multitool - GearHungry. [online] GearHungry. Available at: http://gearhungry.com/2013/06/crktguppie-multitool.html [Accessed 4 Jun. 2015].
NASA, (2015). HUMAN PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES. [online] Msis.jsc.nasa.gov. Available at: http://msis.jsc.nasa.gov/sections/
section04.htm#Figure 4.9.3-8 [Accessed 4 Jun. 2015].