A personal razor which is 100% recyclable which performs at the same standards as non-recyclable counterparts and requires less water during use.
Autodesk Software Used:
Challenge Summary
The goal of the Cradle to Cradle Design Challenge was to eliminate the concept of “waste” by designing products with materials that may be perpetually cycled to retain their value as nutrients to fuel growing global economies.
Design Summary & Considerations
According to the EPA, close to two billion razors end up in landfills each year, largely due to the difficulty and danger associated with recycling the small stainless-steel blades. In addition, disposable razors waste an incredible amount of water during consumer use.
To address these climate change issues, the winning team created a 100% recyclable razor using Autodesk Fusion 360’s direct and parametric modeling, shape optimization capabilities. Enabling the 9-person team to collaborate on multiple parts simultaneously to design for disassembly, and minimize material waste, and maximize overall efficiency.
Autodesk Fusion 360
Autodesk Fusion 360’s unique file share system was an essential component in the design of the razor. It allowed the team to collaborate more effectively than any of the other 3D CAD modeling software available would permit. It also increased overall efficiency as the designers were able to work on and reference multiple components at the same time.
Additionally, Fusion 360 improved the design through the Shape Optimization capabilities, to minimize the material waste of the razor. This was primarily used towards the head of the razor and near the attaching neck. The designers had to be aware of the shape optimizations closer to the handle, so they could ensure this section still provided a watertight seal. The reduction in material usage lowers both the cost as well as the overall impact that the razor has on the environment.
While designing the razor, both direct modeling as well as parametric modeling were utilized. Primarily using parametric modeling in the design of individual components to ensure dimensions necessary for connections would match. Direct modeling was more beneficial in the assembly processes to roughly position the components before defining the joints and relationships between them.