Ergonomic Cheese Grater

For: Stanford University

Class: DESIGN 141 - Product Design Methods - Winter 2023

Length: 5 Weeks

Materials: Foam Core

Skills: CAD/Fusion 360, Ergonomics Plus Evaluations, Heuristics Analysis, Design Sketching, Orthographic Sketching, User Testing and Evaluation

Type: Team Project

Why?

  • To explore how human-centered design principles—specifically physical ergonomics—can improve everyday tools by reducing strain and enhancing usability

  • To gain hands-on experience applying anthropometric data, sketching, prototyping, and CAD modeling in the context of iterative, user-informed product design

CAD Rendering: Caelan Koch

Ergonomic Analysis

Original Design: Vollrath 47700 Chrome Plated Cheese Cutter w/ Aluminum Roller

Pressure / Pain Points:

  • Unnatural wrist flexion and ulnar deviation

  • Connection between grip and hands

Design Requirements:

  • Determined handle length (95 mm) to keep contact between fingers and tool (no palm)

  • Handle diameter - greater grip force and stability

  • Tool shape and materials should be no slip and contoured/shaped to be held comfortably

Table: Team Effort

Force Analysis Drawings: Liv Alyn

Design Sketches

Sketches: Caelan Koch

Refined Design Sketches

Refined Design Sketches: Caelan Koch

Foam Core Handle Models

User Testing

Foam Core Handles: Caelan Koch

  1. Bulbous handle

  2. Keeping the handle at an angle (minimal wrist deviation)

  3. Cutter at an angle away from the handle (90°

What Didn’t Work

  1. Design of models weren’t intuitive

  2. Caused some unnatural movements

What Worked

“I like [the models] to be as compact as possible.” - User 1

“4 and 3 were my favorites, 4 because of the bulb, and 3 is just comfortable, and the angle of the handle makes it easier.” - User 1

“5 I didn’t understand how to use, and it put me too far away from the cheese.” - User 1

“4 and 2 were my favorites, because they were the easiest to use, the handle length was a little bit short, but otherwise they put the least amount of strain.” - User 2

“Number 5 was really straining my wrist, and was very big.” - User 2

“My problem with some of the models was that they put my hand at a weird angle.”
- User 3

User Testing: Team Effort

Full Foam Core Models

Full Foam Core Hand Models: Caelan Koch

Final Foam Model Design

Final Model Design: Team Effort

Final CAD Model

Final CAD Rendering - Liv Alyn