SPARC

Angle Grinder Redesigned

The Problem: The wrong tool for the right job

Tools are designed to be universal, to work in every circumstance equally well. Sometimes the common features of a tool aren’t useful to the task it’s used for.

How can we redesign a power tool to accommodate specific user’s needs?

We met with auto body repair technicians and designed a new angle grinder designed for professional auto body technicians and home enthusiasts.

“I remove the [disc guard], I don’t even bother.... it get’s in the way. ”
“Sure, [discs] break...they don’t hurt. Mostly.”

“I need to [change discs] to fit into [small spaces], it takes too long to so I [ use multiple tools with different disc types]”

“I prefer pnuematic tools, because they’re less heavy and bulky. But they’re useless when the garage doesn’t have [an air compressor]”

User Needs Mindmap

Mapping the user needs allows us to find new solutions and technologies.

Bulky Electric Motors

Users had to choose between heavy and bulky electric drive grinders or pnumatic drivers that required a large air compressor to function. By using a flexible shaft we can seperate the motor and the hand piece, creating a lightweight electric drive system.

Cord Management

Pnenmatic tools often had issues with cord management. By intergrating a cord wrap system into the base of the tool we can avoid storage problems.

Sketch Ideation

Finding the form

Sketch models

Validating ergonomics and finalizing form.