The SledgeWhammer

For the first Action Project in the D&E course, we had to research a tool and try and build an improved version that an elderly person could use. In the unit, we have been talking about empathy and how we can incorporate it into design. For my project, I decided to create a way for the elderly to not have to do heavy lifting. The tool I chose was the Sledgehammer. For my project, I created a way to make it so there was no more heavy lifting it will just destroy things on its own. One of the things I struggled with was creating the design. We didn't know the material should be made of or how big it was. I am proud of the way it turned out. I think it could really help a lot of people. For the first AP in the D&E course, we had to research a tool and try and build an improved version that an elderly person could use. In the unit, we have been talking about empathy and how we can incorporate it into design. For my project, I decided to create a way for the elderly to not have to do heavy lifting. The tool I chose was the Sledgehammer. For my project, I created a way to make it so there was no more heavy lifting it will just destroy things on its own. One of the things I struggled with was creating the design. We didn't know the material should be made of or how big it was. I am proud of the way it turned out. I think it could really help a lot of people.

For our new and improved sledgehammer, we decided to make it so you wouldn't ever even have to lift a finger. The SledgeWhammer  is a sledgehammer that is attached to a system of pulleys and levers. We weren't sure how we should make it easier for elderly people to use since its very uncommon to see an old person wielding a sledgehammer. We decided that we should take a different approach. We decided to target construction workers because they are the ones who mainly use sledgehammer. We made a machine where you can connect a sledgehammer to a system of levers and pulleys to help swing the sledgehammer so you'd not have to. You just put the thing you wish to destroy on the ground and the sledgehammer (with adjustable interchangeable heads) with screws and bolts. We struggled with finding a good thing to use to make sure the hammer was sturdy. There is a rope attached to the machine so when you pull it, the hammer will start to swing. It is attached to a counterweight that will make the hammer continue to swing until the object is destroyed. We also attached a ratchet so that the rope would only go forward; never backward. This is so the hammer doesn't come back and smack you in the face. This recreation of a sledgehammer will help many people who maybe don't have enough strength but still need to destroy somethings for building. In my interview with my grandma, she told me that she "always wants to break things to decorate her garden, but doesn't have the strength to use a sledgehammer."

That is why we created the SledgeWhammer so that people with little to no strength can still use it. In order to use this tool, you just place the sledgehammer on the machine with whichever head you need and place what you need to break on the ground. Then, you pull a rope to start the sledgehammer and the counterweight moves the sledgehammer back and forth until the object is broken. The ratchet attached to the rope helps make sure the sledgehammer will not swing back and hit someone, with this ratchet, the hammer can only swing forward, and not back. Compared to the original tool, the SledgeWhammer is much easier to use since there is no heavy lifting. You can break a lot more things in less time since you don't have to strain your back to lift anything.

MF(2015). SledgeWhammer withVectors.

MF (2015). Storyboard

MF(2015). Storyboard pt2.

MF (2015). The SledgeWhammer