Fufu Pot
A rapid prototying project with Northeastern's Generate product development studio, which created a functional stand-mixer like device which streamlined to process of making Fufu, a West African dish.
Duration
13 weeks
Role
Hardware Engineer
Team Size
13 members
Overview
This project was done as a member of Generate, Northeastern University's premier student-run product development studio (prior to my transfer from the University). While working on this project, I was a Mechanical Engineering Major, and acted as a mechanical engineer on this project. This product was a stand-mixer device, with added functionality to dispense water and heat the mixture from the bottom. The project was done in partnership with an external sponsor, being one of the first product at Generat to be done in partnership with an external sponsor. The project was done over the course of one semester (13 weeks), and culminated in a final prototype that was showcased at Generate's Showcase.
Technical Approach
I was primarily focused on the Water Dispensing system built into the machine, additionally helping with the mixer gear housing.
- Water Dispensing: This system involved the use of a pump to deliver water from a reservoir to the spout in the center of the mixer to get delivered into the bowl. This involved routing tubing through the main structure of the mixer, finding a pump able to dispense a precise amount of water, and designing the spout as to not get in the way of the bowl, or impede water flow.
- Mixing: The mixing module consisted of a planetary gear system able to rotate the mixing head as desired. Multiple attachments were created in CAD and fabricated.
- Heating: The heating component was designed to heat the mixture from the bottom, ensuring even cooking and proper consistency. It involved a hot plate embedded inside the bowl housing, so the bowl was still removable, but heated as needed during the cooking process.
All components came together in the end to create a fully functional prototype at Generate's Spring 2024 Showcase.