The Idea of designing an Office workstation was primarily for our own studio. Reflecting the same problem, we thought of designing an affordable for any young start-ups like us who certainly need workstations but without going hefty on their pockets. Replacing the normal wooden/ laminated tops which other workstations offer, we wanted to integrate an experimental solid surface made out of recycled plastics. Eventually, producing a workstation which will be quite affordable and knocked down ensuring easy Installation on the site. Beyond from the basic functionality such as wire management, Modularity etc., there should be feeling which should be evoked subconsciously within the user. With our design, we want that feeling to be as a responsibility towards environment, nature and aspires one to do good work.
Sample 1 (Red) : We collected the waste products, shredded them with the help of a shredder in our workshop. The shredded plastics were then collected in a baking tray of our own home Oven.This was then baked for 30 minutes, eventually getting a flat sheet.
Sample 2 (White-Blue) :The Home oven idea had to be taken to a larger scale, hence we thought of making our own heat press oven to make plastic sheets of desired size for the table. After manufacturing our own Heat Press, the set of experiments performed were rigorous.During the process of removing the sheet from the metal plate, we noticed that the temperature inside was still high, this resulted into a deformed sheet. We also noticed that some of the patches of the sheet got stuck to the metal surface, resulting into a tensed situation.
Sample 3 (Black-White): In order to achieve a well finished sheet, the heaters should work equivalently. As a prototype machine we had a lot of limitations, especially timely power cut-off of individual heaters at certain point of times, resulting in unbaked patches on the sheet.
Sample 2 (White-Blue) :The Home oven idea had to be taken to a larger scale, hence we thought of making our own heat press oven to make plastic sheets of desired size for the table. After manufacturing our own Heat Press, the set of experiments performed were rigorous.During the process of removing the sheet from the metal plate, we noticed that the temperature inside was still high, this resulted into a deformed sheet. We also noticed that some of the patches of the sheet got stuck to the metal surface, resulting into a tensed situation.
Sample 3 (Black-White): In order to achieve a well finished sheet, the heaters should work equivalently. As a prototype machine we had a lot of limitations, especially timely power cut-off of individual heaters at certain point of times, resulting in unbaked patches on the sheet.
Sample 4 (Blue): All of the previous heating modules were replaced and the timely cut off of the individual heaters were also being monitored. After a lot of trial and error, we were able to achieve sheets with even thickness and glossy surface.
The timeline of the entire process from ideation to making of the workstation, the Heat press and developing the sheets took us almost 4 months.
The Heat Press Machine.
The inspiration of working with recycled plastic came from a forum called Precious plastic community. Dave hakkens, the founder of precious plastic, introduced DIY machines for reprocessing plastics. This led us to experimenting with melting waste products in the domestic ovens. The whole awareness of using recycled plastics into day to day products, and we took this as a challenge to slowly help establish the relation and acceptance of the material with the people. Acceptance of such recycled materials into our daily lives might be a step in pushing the smaller dominos for a gradual, but bigger change and we want to be a part of this change.
Applications
The team : Jaymin Panchasara Vivek Prakash Abhay Panchasara
Mentor : Vazir Nadaph
