BSc Product Design
Ralph Lambourne
I pride myself on creating products with well-considered form and function. The products I enjoy most often combine both 3D printing and sustainability as key points.
Plastic Bottle 3D Printing Filament Extruder and Re-Spooler
The Plastic Bottle 3D Printing Filament Extruder and Re-Spooler allows universities to repurpose waste plastic bottles from their cafeterias and collection points, providing an endless supply of potential filament. By creating recycled 3D printing filament, students will be able to observe first hand the complex process of effective PET recycling. This product is economical as waste plastic is free and abundant. PET is also a highly recyclable material and could be re-extruded multiple times. Common 3D printing materials such as PLA are only commercially decomposable, so without specific bins to dispose of the waste, it ends up in landfill. Sustainable alternatives are harder to procure and often more expensive.
Self Powered Flashing Fishing Lure
The Self Powered Flashing Fishing Lure utilises plastic in an innovative manner, independently powered and designed for the recreational fishing market my product is for active fishing enthusiasts who like to fish using the continuous retrieval method. The Self Powered Flashing Fishing Lure uses its tail shape to rotate through the water, using an internal motor as a generator, powering an LED which flashes on and off through the translucent plastic case as the lure is reeled in using a whipping/jolting action with the rod. Current flashing fishing lures use rechargeable batteries or use photoluminescence making them hard to recharge whereas my product powers itself during use and therefore would never need to be recharged. My product also utilises its spinning motion to attract predatory fish using reflective stickers which help to flash and imitate an injured or dying fish when swimming, this increases the rate of bites even when the light is not flashing. I chose to pursue a project related to fishing as it has been a hobby of mine since I was a child, having over 10 years of fishing experience I know what a lure should look like to catch fish.