Current Problems
After speaking with people who use sanding equipment on a daily basis and using a broad variety of tools to gain empathy, I was able to identify four major issues to design against.
WRIST STRAIN
Certain positions put the user’s wrist in
compromised positions, increasing risk of injury and persisting health issues
CABLE MANAGEMENT
Consideration of where cables might interfere with workflow is a priority
and concern
SINGLE FUNCTION
Current products make you choose which type of handle you’d prefer, offering little flexibility
HEFTY BASE
Orbitals are often overbuilt- battery powered tools add even more
extra weight
Alex is more of an at-home handyman. He has a lot of small projects with tight or strange angles. He values maneuverability, but was very interested in a more adaptable solution.
WEIGHT CONCERNS
After long periods of use, Alex felt strain in his shoulders, wrist, and lower back.
LACK OF ADAPTABILITY
Grips are not universal, for different sanding angles, the existing solutions are not optimized.
Brad was the first carpenter I spoke with. He does mostly outdoor work on neighborhood decks, tree houses, and other miscellaneous residential add-on structures.
WRIST STRAIN
Most handles put the wrists of users in a compromised position, risking white finger or vibrational damage.
MOBILITY
Brad does a lot of sanding at awkward angles. Traditional orbital sanders are great for flat surfaces, but uncomfortable for overhead or vertical work.
BRAND ANALYSIS
HOTO Tool is an interesting case study, as they are infamous in the world of power tools due to their use of minimalist design. Accused of prioritizing style over substance, they nevertheless provide something unique.
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I analyzed some of their product before I began sketching, to begin to think about what the tool might look under HOTO.
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Early Phase Development
Analog sketching (above) lead into a few rounds of hybrid prototyping with foam and 3D printing. These prototypes were validated with the users and informed another round of refined and mechanism sketching as I moved towards a final form.
June, 2024
Refined Development
Refinement after the first few rounds of concepting began to get more involved in cad and refining aesthetics. Final models were selected based on aesthetics, application of branding, user feedback on ergonomics, and package size.
FINAL CMF PROTOTYPE
One of the end outcomes for this project was a "looks like / feels like" scale prototype that I modeled and finished.
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Featuring the two handle options and color accurate finish, this was a good way to visualize the final design without having to set up tooling and assemble internals.
INSET COMPONENTS
The body of the tool is protected by a rubber slip cover, to guard against potential damage and drops.
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(Left to right) Power button and right side vent shown.
RECHARGEABLE AND CORDLESS
As with most other HOTO tools, the sander is runs cordlessly. Internal rechargeable batteries allow the user to knock out long projects in difficult spaces.
