Stowaway Tray for table

thingiverse

Project statement Need addressed: My desk at home is often cluttered with papers, books, pencils, pens and more. I needed something to get the clutter out of the way while I work. My project is a table/tray that addresses this issue. It holds items and swings under the table to be stored when it is not being used. How my design can help virtual learners: My design can help virtual learners because it gives them more space to work with at their own work area because it declutters their workspace. Questions 1. What issues did you overcome? The biggest problem I have faced has been doing this project through Hurricane Delta. My school has been off of school since last week because our city was so impacted by the disaster, so I was never able to finalize a prototype of my design as all my parts and the 3d printer are at school. Also, I was having trouble with figuring out how to attach the tray arms to the table. I ended up using M3 bolts to connect them. I also had trouble figuring out how to store the tray when it is not being used. I addressed this problem with a small Command hook. 2. If you could redesign this again what would you change? I would make my tray and arms attachable via ball bearings. I think it would make the mechanism smoother and more professional-looking. Also, I would find a different way to attach my tray to a table because Dewalt clamps do not look very professional either and do not match the design. I would have 3d printed a better solution had I more time. 3. How would 3D printing help strengthen your design? 3d printing helped strengthen my design because I built things that I could not just buy at the store. More 3d printing, however, would help make my connections in my tray arms stronger. I could have designed and printed extruding parts from the arms that fit into the other arms to stabilize the joints more.