Team Members & Role: 

Molly Fabrizio: Team Lead

Ian Roche: Analysis Lead

Gordon Hatcher: Design Lead

Patrick Conroy: Fabrication Lead

Tara Gallagher: Evaluation Lead

Abstract: 

The Blendy Straw provides a creative advancement to the typical straw which allows customers to both drink and thoroughly stir their beverages. The goal of this project is to develop a proof of concept for a manufacturing device for this product.  The assembly is composed of two components: a normal inner straw and an outer straw with deployable and retractable vanes. The existing problem our sponsor is encountering arises from high tolerances in diameters of preprocessed straws sourced from vendors; this resulted in non-uniform slits in the outer straw reducing functionality and jamming their current manufacturing process. Our sponsor tasked our team with designing a proof of concept for a machine that can consistently create four equidistant slits of equal length in the outer straw, allowing for consistent deployment despite the varying straw diameters. Our team approached the problem by breaking it down into two components: a holding mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The holding mechanism was designed to internally support the straw and keep it stationary during the cutting process by using an actuating pin that pushes four mandrels outward to the desired straw diameter. The cutting mechanism was designed with four equidistant blades held in place by safety guard housing. Once the blades are extended, the guard guides them between the mandrels to create four slits, equal in length, width, and angle, while ensuring equal load distribution to prevent any linear wavering. The two mechanisms are connected via a base frame and are actuated using pneumatics so it can operate within a 6 sec cycle time. Our team strives to meet our sponsor’s expectations so that the Blendy Straw will be available in a location near you.