Design for Additive Manufacturing Optimized Vertical Lunchbox
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Abstract
The vertical lunchbox (VL) project, propose an innovative and functional solution for movement. Traditional lunchboxes often fail to meet the diverse needs of today’s consumers, including the desire for convenience, portability, and meal freshness. This project uses the advantages of additive manufacturing to create a lunchbox that not only offers practicality and usability but also incorporates distinctive features tailored to present lifestyles. The design process employs a concept of Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) principles. These concepts enable the development of required features and at the same time reducing assembly time and improve the functionality. Important features of the vertical lunchbox include customizable compartments that can accommodate ice packs, the lid that can be used as a handphone holder, and removable containers for easy cleaning. These features are catering to the needs of busy professionals and students. Parametric modeling and topological optimization helped to ensure that the lunchbox design is appealing and at the same time lightweight and strong. The adoption of 3D printing technology enabled faster production processes with required dimensional accuracy. Test results indicate that the vertical lunchbox meets most of the user requirements. The important features such as a secured locking and snap-fit lid design ensured the reliable transport containers for carrying food. In Addition, the project proved that additive manufacturing can be used for time to market approach of the product development. Finally, the vertical lunchbox project demonstrates how advanced manufacturing techniques can transform traditional product design to meet modern consumer needs.
Manuscript received:18 Feb 2025 | Revised: 12 Apr 2025 | Accepted: 29 Apr 2025 | Published: 30 Jul 2025
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