Sanding at
Caliber Collision
There are multiple variations to a sander. Whether that’s corded/battery-powered, orbital/block, or even hooked up to a vacuum. Though each mechanic has their own preference, there are still many pain points that cross over.
Final Prototype
Milled 20LB foam
PLA 3D printed parts
Once I had all my parts cut and printed, I began sanding from 120 grit up to 800. I used Tamiya surface primer to fill in any imperfections and continued sanding.
The sanding disc, speed dial, and vacuum port were all printed. These were prepped as well with primer and sand paper.
The speeding dial was made to be interactive as well, so it spins.
Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Foam and 3D printed
Human Analysis
I quickly started putting my designs in CAD to figure out scale and how everything in the design would flow
After handing my models to students and professors, I quickly learned what was working and what was not
Going back to my original user research, I made sure to stick with designs that had a low profile and mimicked the benefits of a sanding block
The prototypes with handles were preferred
EC TEC Orbital Sander
What steps does it take?
Pain Points
Heavy
Hard to clean
Straining
Many auto body mechanics prefer to use a sanding block over an orbital sander. This is due to the benefits like higher control, cleaner dust collection, and comfort.
Sanding Block
Texture
Cylindrical
Rubber and plastic
Round form
High-Fidelity Prototypes
Foam, 3D printed, and clay
Human Analysis
After evaluating my first few iterations, I found that a soft front with a handle is what made an impression during the human analysis I did
The organic form encourages and supports a
comfortable grip. It also strays away from the usual geometric and industrial look that most sanders in the market have right now
The handle also allows for multiple hand positions to hold the sander in. Avoiding hand and wrist strain is tough, being able to adjust as often and however needed is what can really relieve the worker
ETS EC 125
Driver board
Speed controller
Power button
24V BLDC brushless motor
Internal cooling fan
Eccentric bearing
Paired well with Festool Antistatic Dust Extraction Hose
