Sep 2021

ME 103: Product Realization: Designing and Making

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A decorative and functional lighting piece inspired by a League of Legends character, Thresh.

Processes: waterjet cutting, TIG welding, bead blast finish, spray paint.

 

Thresh is a character from League of Legends (a team-based video game), who torments people by hooking people with his chained scythe and ripping their souls out. He keeps their souls in a glowing green lantern. I created his lantern in ME 103.

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Prototype

I started by gathering cardstock from cereal boxes, creating four identical pieces. My vision was the user would carry the lantern using a ring, and the cable threads through holes at the top. 

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Computer Aided Design

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operations Sequence

1. Start with rectangular aluminum sheet metal, cut to size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2. Waterjet cut 4x of the top, middle, and bottom components.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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3. Bend sheet metal along bend lines using the sheet metal brake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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4. Bead blast the parts to prevent rust, and for a nice finish.

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5. TIG weld each component together. But practice a lot beforehand, because I only have one try!

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6. Sand the rough edges down and bead blast again. Then use spray paint + primer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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7. Test different lighting orientations. Cover with frosted acrylic, laser cut to size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Done! From conception to finish, this project took me about 80 hours, and gave me a great understanding on the craftsmanship and patience required to manufacture products.

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